124: Chapter 121 The Final Battle

April 24, 1981, 6:00 AM, thirty kilometers north of Basra.

The vanguard of the Iraqi 5th Army had already advanced to this position before dawn.

Three divisions, four hundred and eighty tanks, plus infantry fighting vehicles and self-propelled artillery, formed a marching column stretching nearly twenty kilometers. This was the largest ground force Iraq had committed to the southern front in this war.

The commander was Lieutenant General Abdullah Shadir. He was known in the Iraqi army for being "steady"—he did not take risks in battle, advanced methodically, and gave his opponents no chance to counterattack.

"How is the reconnaissance?" he asked the staff officer.

"The Iranians have constructed three lines of defense in the northern suburbs of Basra. The first is twenty kilometers north of the city, the second is ten kilometers north of the city, and the third is at the edge of the urban area. There are extensive anti-tank fortifications and minefields between each line of defense."

"What about Chemical weapons ammunition?"

"mustard gas shells have been distributed to the artillery brigades. The President's order is—if a frontal breakthrough is difficult, they may be used."

Shadir nodded. He actually didn't want to use Chemical weapons—the pressure from the international community would be immense afterward; Saddam Hussein could withstand it, but he, as the front-line commander, would likely be made a scapegoat.

"Let's try conventional forces first," he said. "Artillery, prepare. Begin artillery preparation at 7:00. After forty minutes of shelling, the armored forces will advance toward the first line of defense."

7:00 AM, northern suburbs of Basra, Iran's first line of defense.

The shelling began.

Iraq's self-propelled artillery poured tons of shells onto the first line of defense. The dust kicked up by the explosions obscured the morning sun, and the entire front of the defense line turned into a gray-yellow haze.

But Rajai's first line of defense contained only a small number of garrison troops—this line of defense was a lure, not meant to be held to the death.

"As soon as the shelling ends, let them in," Rajai said over the radio. "Do not engage in tank warfare with them in the open; lure them into the city."

7:40 AM, the shelling stopped.

The Iraqi armored forces began to advance.

The leading two armored brigades, with about three hundred tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, pressed toward the first line of defense through the dust.

The Iranian garrison troops on the defense line fired a few rounds and then began to retreat—an orderly retreat, not a rout. They contracted toward the urban area along pre-planned routes, ceding the open ground to the Iraqis.

The Iraqi tanks gave chase, advancing at a rapid pace. Within two hours, they broke through the first line of defense and continued to press south until they encountered the second line of defense ten kilometers north of the city.

Shadir received the news at the rear command post and was pleased: "Breakthrough of the first line of defense! The Iranians are retreating!"

The staff officer reminded him: "General, they are retreating too neatly; it doesn't look like a rout."

Shadir waved his hand: "Just cowards, continue the advance."

10:00 AM, northern edge of Basra.

The Iraqi vanguard had already advanced to the edge of the urban area.

Ahead were the streets of Basra—low buildings, winding alleys, and two- or three-story brick houses on both sides. The widest streets were no more than twelve meters across; the T-72 Tank had difficulty turning, its field of vision was restricted, and its sides were completely exposed to the buildings on both sides.

Shadir's staff officer warned him again: "General, urban warfare is unfavorable for us. I suggest establishing a perimeter outside the city, cutting off the Iranians' supplies, and winning this battle with hunger and time."

"How much time would that take?"

"At least two weeks to a month."

"Saddam Hussein gave me a deadline of one week," Shadir shook his head. "Enter the city, continue the fight."

The lead tanks drove into the streets of Basra.

As the first T-72 Tank just turned a corner, an RPG was fired from a second-story window on the right, hitting the side of the tank. The tank was not completely destroyed, but its track was broken, leaving it immobile.

The tanks behind could not get around and were blocked at the intersection.

The second RPG knocked out the coaxial machine gun on the turret of the second tank.

The third was fired from the third floor of the building on the left, penetrating the top armor of the third tank.

Within five minutes, three destroyed tanks were piled up at the entrance of the street, completely blocking the entire street.

The subsequent tanks could neither advance nor retreat.

This was exactly what Reza had designed—let the tanks enter the city, then use the buildings as weapons.

12:00 PM, Rajai's front-line command post.

The battle had been raging for two hours.

The Iraqi armored forces were caught in the urban meat grinder designed by Rajai. In every street and at every intersection, Iranian soldiers were waiting for them on the second and third floors of the buildings, firing from above, specifically targeting the top armor of the tanks.

But the number of Iraqis was too great, and the pressure remained high.

"The 3rd Battalion reports that Iraqi infantry have infiltrated the direction of the bus station in the north of the city; our flank is threatened."

"The 2nd Battalion reports that ammunition consumption has exceeded expectations; less than half of the RPG warheads remain."

"The north bridge reports that Iraqi engineers are forcibly erecting a pontoon bridge, attempting to bypass the urban area and cross the river directly."

Three pieces of news arrived simultaneously; Rajai's order of processing was: first the bridge, then the flank, then the ammunition.

Once the bridge was built, if the Iraqi forces bypassed the urban area from the flank and directly surrounded Basra, everything would be lost.

"mortars, hit the pontoon bridge! All available mortars, fire on the north river-crossing point!"

"The flank will be reinforced by Rezai's reserve troops; move now!"

"Regarding the ammunition, the logistics supply ship from the Fao Peninsula will arrive this afternoon; tell them to speed up!"

After giving the orders, Rajai picked up the microphone to report to Reza: "The battle situation is more complex than expected; the Iraqis are forcibly crossing the river, attempting to outflank us."

Reza's voice came over the microphone, very calm: "Has the bridge been destroyed?"

"We are hitting it."

"What about other directions?"

"Iraqi tank losses in the urban area are high, but they have many infantry, and they are engaged in melee combat with us in the streets."

"Good," Reza said. "Tell your men to hold out until 3:00 PM. At 3:00 PM, I will send you a big gift."

"What gift?"

Reza did not answer and hung up the microphone.

1:00 PM, Ahvaz.

Reza hung up the call with Rajai and turned to Karimi.

"Has Sadiq's unit arrived?"

"The 1st Division is moving north from the Fao Peninsula and will arrive at the assembly point east of Basra at 2:30 PM."

"What about Hassan's Special Forces?"

"They are already waiting on the logistics supply line of the Iraqi 5th Army."

Reza drew a line on the map, from east of Basra to the north, cutting off the retreat of the Iraqi 5th Army.

"Strike now."

"The plan is 3:00 PM—"

"Advance it to now. Rajai is struggling hard in the city; one minute earlier means one less person dying."

The order was given.

Sadiq's 1st Division sallied out from the east, charging directly at the long supply line and flank of the Iraqi 5th Army. Hassan's Special Forces simultaneously detonated previously planted Anti-tank mines on the logistics line, blowing the Iraqi ammunition supply convoy into wreckage.

Shadir received this news at the front-line command post, and his first reaction was disbelief.

"How could there be Iranians on the flank? Their forces should all be in the city—"

"General, Sadiq's 1st Division! They moved north from the Fao Peninsula! Our flank—"

The flank was cut off, the supply line was severed, and the urban area ahead had become a stalemate.

Shadir realized he had walked into a trap.

In the city was Rajai's meat grinder, to the east was Sadiq's 1st Division, and behind him was Hassan's Special Forces. His three divisions were split in two—the vanguard that had entered the urban area had lost contact with the rear units outside the city, and the rear units outside the city were facing a fierce attack on their flank from the 1st Division.

"Retreat! Order the vanguard to withdraw from the urban area!"

But the vanguard could not withdraw from the streets of the urban area—the exits were sealed by Rajai's troops, and the destroyed tanks blocked the streets.

The two armored brigades trapped in the urban area, about one hundred and sixty tanks, could not get out once they had entered the city.