Firestorm: First Gulf War Epsd. 3

On 10 September 1980, Iraq forcefully reclaimed territories in Zain al-Qaws and Saif Saad, areas promised to them under the 1975 Algiers Agreement but never handed over by Iran. This bold move led both nations to declare the treaty null and void on 14 and 17 September, respectively.

The final unresolved border issue at the time of Iraq's invasion on 22 September was whether Iranian ships would fly Iraqi flags and pay navigation fees for a segment of the Shatt al-Arab river.

On 22 September 1980, Iraq launched a full-scale invasion of Iran. The Iraqi Air Force initiated surprise air strikes on ten Iranian airfields, aiming to cripple the Iranian Air Force. However, the attack fell short of its objectives, only damaging some airbase infrastructure and failing to destroy a significant number of aircraft.

The few MiG-23BN, Tu-22, and Su-20 aircraft that managed to strike had limited impact, as most of Iran's combat aircraft were protected in hardened shelters.

The next day, Iraq escalated the conflict further by launching a ground invasion along a 644 km (400 mi) front, with three simultaneous attacks. Saddam Hussein aimed for a devastating blow to Iran's prestige, hoping it would lead to the collapse of the new Iranian government or at least end Iran's calls for his overthrow.

Of the six divisions invading by ground, four were sent to Khuzestan, near the border's southern end, to sever the Shatt al-Arab from the rest of Iran and establish a territorial security zone.

Two of these divisions, one mechanized and one armored, began sieges of the crucial port cities Abadan and Khorramshahr. The other two divisions crossed the northern and central borders to preempt an Iranian counter-attack.

In the south, two armored divisions secured the area bounded by Khorramshahr, Ahvaz, Susangerd, and Musian. In the central front, Iraqi forces occupied Mehran and advanced towards the Zagros Mountains' foothills, blocking the traditional Tehran–Baghdad invasion route by securing territory near Qasr-e Shirin.

On the northern front, the Iraqis aimed to establish a strong defensive position opposite Suleimaniya to protect the Iraqi Kirkuk oil complex.

Despite these aggressive maneuvers, Iraqi hopes for an uprising by the ethnic Arabs of Khuzestan were dashed, as most of these Arabs remained loyal to Iran.