181: Chapter 178 Basra

March 27, 1982, Tehran, Supreme Leader's office.

Reza personally brought the fake attack plan to Tehran.

He delivered it directly into the Supreme Leader's hands.

"I have a new attack plan," he said, "I would like to seek your opinion."

The Supreme Leader looked at it for a moment.

"Basra," he said, "You intend to attack Basra directly?"

"Yes."

"This is a bold plan."

"Yes."

"Why Basra?"

"Because," Reza said, "Iraq is preparing an offensive. Their troops are concentrated near Basra. If we attack Basra directly, their troops will have to fall back to defend it. In this way, their attack plan will be disrupted."

The Supreme Leader thought for a moment.

"How many troops do you need?"

"One hundred and fifty thousand."

"Can we mobilize that many?"

"Barely," Reza said, "but it is possible."

"When will it be launched?"

"April 2nd."

The Supreme Leader looked at the plan.

"I need time to consider," he said, "I will discuss it with the General Staff."

"Yes."

Reza knew this was exactly what he wanted.

If the Supreme Leader discussed it with the General Staff, Mirza would definitely know.

And Mirza would definitely report it to Iraq.

Iraq would adjust its deployments.

"There is one more thing," the Supreme Leader said.

"Yes."

"You created this plan this time without consulting me first," the Supreme Leader said, "I hope that in the future, you will consult with me first regarding such major decisions."

Reza was taken aback.

He indeed had not consulted the Supreme Leader first. This was a strategy—he wanted the plan to enter Mirza's line of sight as quickly as possible.

But the Supreme Leader's words had a deeper meaning.

"I understand," Reza said, "I will consult with you first in the future."

"Good."

The meeting ended.

Reza walked out of the office.

He saw Mirza in the hallway.

Mirza saw him, smiled, and nodded.

"Your Excellency Reza," Mirza said, "Long time no see."

"Long time no see."

"I heard you have another big move?"

Reza pretended to hesitate.

"Yes," he said, "but it hasn't been finalized yet."

"Understood."

Reza continued walking.

He sneered inwardly.

Mirza was already fishing for information. This meant he was about to report to Iraq.

Now, the key was whether the content he reported was what Reza wanted him to report.

March 28, a mosque in Tehran.

Mirza came here to pray.

After finishing his prayers, he did not leave immediately. He walked a circle around the mosque.

He passed by a corner.

There was an old wooden locker there.

He looked left and right; no one noticed him.

He opened the locker and stuffed a small envelope inside.

Then he left the mosque.

Outside the mosque, in a van.

Karimi's men were monitoring.

"He dropped off an envelope," an agent said.

"Retrieve it," Karimi said.

The agent entered the mosque and found the envelope. He photographed the envelope without disturbing it, then put it back.

The photos were sent to Karimi.

Karimi opened the photos.

Inside the envelope was a piece of invisible ink paper. After being treated with special chemicals, the text would appear.

Karimi's laboratory processed the invisible ink paper.

The text appeared.

"Iran will launch a large-scale offensive on April 2nd. Target: Basra. Troops deployed: 150,000. Air support: 80 fighter jets. Armored forces: 1,500 tanks. Logistics and supplies: from the three directions of Ahvaz, Kermanshah, and Shiraz. Recommendation: Mobilize all available Iraqi troops in the south to defend Basra."

After reading it, Karimi smiled.

Mirza had followed Reza's scripted plan completely and passed on the false intelligence.

Moreover, Mirza had added his own "recommendation"—this was exactly what would make Iraq react in the way Reza expected.

Karimi picked up the phone and called Reza.

"The fish has taken the bait," he said.

March 29, Baghdad.

Hassan Rajab entered Saddam Hussein's office with the new intelligence.

"Your Excellency Saddam Hussein," he said, "The Eagle has sent important intelligence."

"The Eagle is still working?" Saddam Hussein was surprised.

"Yes. We thought he had been executed along with Beheshti, but he is still there."

"What intelligence?"

"Iran will launch a large-scale offensive against Basra on April 2nd. 150,000 troops."

Saddam Hussein stood up.

"150,000. Attacking Basra directly."

"Yes."

"What about our offensive? We planned to attack around April 10th."

"If Iran attacks Basra on April 2nd," Hassan Rajab said, "our offensive troops will be dragged into the defensive battle for Basra. We must abandon our own offensive and defend first."

Saddam Hussein paced back and forth.

"Does the Eagle confirm this intelligence?"

"Yes. He suggests immediately mobilizing all troops in the south to defend Basra."

Saddam Hussein stopped.

He thought for a long time.

If the intelligence was true, he had to defend Basra immediately. If he did not defend it, Basra would be captured, and the entire south would be lost.

If the intelligence was fake—

"How has the intelligence the Eagle provided us in the past been?" Saddam Hussein asked.

"It has always been very accurate in the past," Hassan Rajab said, "except for the time with Beheshti; we thought he was involved, but in reality, he was not."

"In other words, the Eagle is credible."

"Yes."

Saddam Hussein made his decision.

"Mobilize the offensive troops north of Basra," he said, "transfer them all to Basra for defense."

"Then our attack plan—"

"Postpone it," Saddam Hussein said, "defend Basra first. After repelling Iran's offensive, we will then launch our own."

"Yes."

Hassan Rajab went out.

Saddam Hussein sat in his chair.

He did not know that he had just made a wrong decision.

He was acting according to the script designed by Reza.

March 31, Ahvaz.

Fatima brought new intelligence into Reza's office.

"Satellite images show," she said, "that the Iraqi army has withdrawn from the staging area north of Basra. They have retreated into the city of Basra for defense."

"Withdrawn completely?"

"Almost completely. The troops at the northern staging area have been reduced from eighty thousand to fifteen thousand."

Reza smiled.

"Perfect."

"According to our real plan," Fatima said, "on April 2nd, we will attack the northern staging area. Now there are only fifteen thousand Iraqi troops there. Our one hundred thousand troops will destroy them."

"Yes."

"But—" Fatima hesitated for a moment.

"What?"

"Our real plan has not been approved by the Supreme Leader," Fatima said, "what he approved was the plan for Basra."

Reza looked at Fatima.

"I will go solve this problem," he said.

Fatima nodded.

She left.

Reza picked up the phone.

"Karimi."

"Yes."

"I need to do one thing," Reza said, "I need to let the Supreme Leader know what I have done."

"Now?"

"Now."

"Why not wait until after the operation is over?"

"Because," Reza said, "if I wait until after it is over to tell him, he will think I am hiding something. If I tell him now, he will think I am cooperating with him."

"I understand."

"You come with me."

"Yes."