✦ History

Part of Iran–Iraq War

Siege of Basra

January 8 – February 26, 1987 · Basra Governorate

Result Iraqi victory

Iran launched its Karbala-5 offensive to take the Iraqi port of Basra, with massive casualties on both sides. Iraqi defences held, and the attack failed to take the city.

On the map Contemporaries

Iraq

Iran

Iraq
Iran
Saddam Hussein military commander Maher Abd al-Rashid military commander Abdul-Wahid Shannan ar-Ribat military commander
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani military commander Mohsen Rezaee military commander Ali Sayyad Shirazi military commander Hossein Kharrazi military commander

Strength and losses

Strength
300,000
Killed
10,000
Captured
1,750
Strength
150,000–200,000
Killed
40,000
Wounded
80,000
Tanks lost
218
Ships lost
21

Units

Iraqi Republican Guard 5th Division (Iraq) 8th Division (Iraq)
Islamic Republic of Iran Army Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 27th Mohammad Rasulullah Division 17th Ali ibn Abi Taleb Division