February 24 – March 19, 1984 · Hawizeh Marshes Theater
February 24 – March 19, 1984
Iran launched Operation Kheibar into the Hawizeh Marshes — a vast labyrinth of water, reeds, and islands on the Iraq-Iran border — using small boats and infantry to cross the waterways and capture the Majnoon Islands, site of one of Iraq's largest undeveloped oil fields. The marsh terrain neutralized Iraq's armor and gave Iran's infantry an advantage. Iraq responded with chemical weapons for the first time against mass civilian-age conscripts, deploying mustard gas by artillery shell and aircraft. Iran captured the Majnoon Islands but could not exploit the breakthrough against prepared positions.
Commanders