IRAQ/IRAN MILITARY SUMMARY (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01782R000300200001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 21
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 27, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 31, 1980
• Content Type: REPORT

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Secret ~~~
imegery'nelyala report
Iraq/Iran Military Summary
S~
Secret
Z-20166/80
IAR-0303/80
31 OCTOBER 1980
copy 17 7
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Warning Notice
Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved
(WNINTEL)
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
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Contractor/Consultants
PROPIN- Caution-Proprietary Information Involved
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ORCON- Dissemination and Extraction of Information
Controlled by Originator
REL ... This Information has been Authorized for
Release to .. .
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IRAQ/IRAN MILITARY SUMMARY
(S)
1. (S/D) This report updates the most recent in a series of imagery-derived reports on the Iraq/[ran
conflict and covers the period This report discusses deployed ground forces in the
forward area, rear garrison units (Figure 1),. airfields, naval bases, commercial shipping, POL facilities,
and related activity in Jordan. Military unit designators and subordination (where used) are derived from
collateral sources.z Acronyms and abbreviations are defined in a glossary at the end of the report. Addi-
tional reports will be issued as the situation changes.
OVERVIEW
2. (S/D) Imagery of the forward areas of conflict during the reporting period showed that the Iraqi
forces apparently control the city of Khorramshahr north of the Karun River. Iranian forces were still in
control of Ahvaz and Dezful where the Iraqi and Iranian positions remained relatively unchanged. Iranians
continued to reinforce their forces in Dezful with the recent arrival of two tank companies and one mechanized
infantry company.
3. (S/D) Four Iraqi and seven Iranian rear area garrisons/facilities were imaged during the reporting
period. Elements of the two tank battalions from the Iraqi 5th Mechanized Division in the Az Zubayr area
returned to garrison. Major elements of the Iranian 2nd Armored Brigade of the 16th Armored Division at
Zanjan had departed garrison
4. (S/D) Three Iraqi and 13 Iranian airfields were imaged during the reporting period.
5. (S/D) One Iraqi and one Iranian naval facility were imaged.
6. (S/D) Eleven Iraqi and 16 Iranian POL-related facilities were imaged. New damage was observed
at two Iranian facilities.
7. (S/D) Related activity included the identification of probable Czechoslovakian-produced trucks
at Aqaba, Jordan. These trucks may be involved in the reported Jordan effort to resupply Iraq.
GROUND FORCE ACTIVITY
Iraq/Iran Forward Areas
Khorramshahr/Abadan Area
8. (S/D) Iraqi forces appeared to control the city of Khorramshahr north of the Karun Rive
r
Elements of an Iraqi tank company and a mechanized infantry company were in e
city, w ale two Iraqi tanks and an APC were parked just north of the bridge over the Karun River (Figure
31" T~dge links Khorramshahr to Abadan. T'he Iraqi-controlled Khorramshahr Barracks North C
had sustained moderate damage from artillery fire, and the associated ammunition storage
area had been heavily damaged. Four abandoned Iranian tanks and numerous support vehicles remained
in garrison. An Iraqi tank company and a mechanized infantry company were observed 3 nm north of
Khorramshahr. Also a line of trucks was parked in a treeline 1.5 nm northeast of the city. Iraqi artillery
units on the west bank of the Shatt Al Arab in Iraq included three probable mortar batteries and two
artillery batteries 9 nm northwest of Abadan as well as one artillery battalion and three AA batteries
approximately l2 nm northwest of the city. The area previously occupied by an Iraqi tank brigade, 5 nm
north of Abadan, was not imaged.
9. (S/D) Iranian forces observed in the Abadan area included elements of a tank platoon which
remained just south of the Khorramshahr/Abadan bridge over the Karun River, in a residential area
(Figure 3). Seven ZU-23 AA positions were still deployed around the airfield at Abadan.
10. (S/D) Elements of an Iraqi mechanized infantry brigade remained deployed approximately 9 nm
west and southwest of Ahvaz Elements of an armor brigade with two AA
batteries remained l l nm west of the city, immediately behind the mechanized infantry brigade. Farther to
the rear, three artillery battalions with two AA batteries and a probable division-level command post were
17 nm west of Ahvaz.
11. (S/D) Iranian ground forces deployed in defense of Ahvaz remained essentially unchanged. They
included one tank company, one tank platoon, one mechanized infantry company, one mechanized infan-
try platoon, two M 107 SP gun batteries, and four M 109 SP gun batteries. One AA battery was 4.5 nm
east-northeast of the city at the Ahvaz Airfield. Ahvaz Hawk Site 10 remained unoccu-
pied.
WNINTf: 1,
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12. (S/D) A second Iraqi force was seen for the first time 23 nm west-northwest of Ahvaz and 7 nm
south of the Karkheh Rive This Iraqi force consisted of one tank battalion, one mecha-
nized infantry company and a AA battery. An Iraqi tank platoon and a mechanized infantry platoon were
providing security at two bridges across a small stream 2 nm south of this force.
13. (S/D) An Iranian tank company was seen for the first time deployed as a blocking force along a
road 1.5 nm south of the Karkheh River and 5 nm north of the Iraqi force
14. (S/D) A third Iraqi force was partially imaged 35 nm northeast of Ahvaz. The force consisted of
one probable tank battalion and one probable mechanized infantry company.
15. (S/D) An Iranian force of unknown size and composition, 32 nm northwest of Ahvaz, was
opposing the Iraqi force. An additional Iranian armored force of at least battalion size, observed for the
first time, was 25 nm northwest of the city.
16. (S/D) Elements of an Iraqi tank brigade and mechanized infantry brigade remained 13.5 nm
west of Dezful Approximately 60 destroyed vehicles were observed in the area
between the Iraqi forces and the Iranian forces immediately west of the Karkheh River. The Iranian
forces, which remained west of the Karkheh River, consisted of a tank battalion-minus and a mechanized
infantry company. Elements of one Iranian tank company had been removed from the west bank of the
Karkheh River
17. (S/D) The Iraqi force 14.5 nm southwest of Dezful and immediately west of Shush consisted of
two tank battalions, one mechanized infantry battalion, one tank company, and one mechanized infantry
company These Iraqi positions remained essentially unchanged
18. (S/D) Additional Iraqi forces, 10 nm west of Shush, consisted of one tank company, two
mechanized infantry platoons, three FA battalions, one FA battery, and one engineer battalion
Air defense for this force was being provided by three SA-6 battalions. The westernmost SA-6
battalion and FA battery were only seen
19. (S/D) Iranian forces deployed southwest of Dezful in the Shush area consisted of one tank
company, one SP gun battalion, and two SP gun batteries.
20. (S/D) Iranian forces within 10 nm of Dezful, stretching from the northwest quadrant to the
southwest quadrant, consisted of one tank battalion, one tank battalion-minus, two tank companies, one
tank platoon, one SP gun battalion, three SP gun batteries, and four FA batteries. A probable CP
consisting of numerous trucks and tents remained in ravines immediately northwest of the city. Also a
probable mobile AD unit remained just west of Dezful. Although force strengths in the Shush and Dezful
areas remained essentially unchanged, there was some repositioning of units.
21. (S/D) An Iranian tank force of at least battalion size (possibly elements of a brigade), a mecha-
nized infantry company, and numerous support vehicles remained positioned 10 nn north of Dezful. A
field-deployed Hawk site consisting of three launchers, five probable associated Hawk radars, and numer-
ous vehicles was newly identified collocated with these units at 32-33-1ON 048-22-40E
(Figure 6). Some of the Hawk equipment had been in place
22. (S/D) An armor force consisting of at least two tank companies and one mechanized infantry
company was 12 nm north-northwest of Dezful. This force arrived he field
logistics depot identified as not imaged during this reporting period.
23. (S/D) Other AD units in the Dezful area included two
(Dezful Hawk Site 2, A24-35, and Dezful Hawk Site 5, A05-35,
three AA batteries around Vahadati AB Airfield.
24. S D The status of equipment in Dezful Barracks and Brigade Headquarters
ppeared to be unchanged
Iraq
25. (S/D) In the Az Zubayr area,
and
two of the three major installations housing the 5th Mechanized
Infantry Division were observed ~ Elements of the two tank battalions previously reported
out of garrison at Az Zubayr Barracks and Brigade Headquarters Southwest have re-
turned. Seventeen tanks were in one battalion area, and eight tanks were in t e secon atta ion area.
Numerous pieces of captured Iranian equipment including M-60 tanks, BTR-60 and BTR-50 APC, trucks,
and jeeps were observed in an area just northwest of the barracks area (Figure 7). Ten OT-64 APC were in
garrison at Ash Shuaybah Barracks Southwest Airfield This facility houses a mechanized
infantry battalion.
(Continued p. 8)
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SYRIA
BAGHDAD
;'~ Iraqi
Iranian
BUSN~,H
a1.
FIGURE 1. IRAQIlIRANIAN GROUND FORCES ACTIVITY
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iragJlran Forward Areas
TURKEY
-~-?- INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY
PRINCIPAL ROAD
~ PRINCIPAL RAILROAD
;Tikrit
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Fig 5
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B NDA~
ABBAS
AFGHANISTAN
'CHAH
BAHAR
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~~,~~~ i
~()~iC;
r, ~ ~ ~ ~ J
Nautical Miles
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FORWARD EDGE OF BATTLE AREA
AS OF
FORWARD EDGE F TTLEAREA
AS OF
FIGURE 2. GROUND FORCES ACTIVITY, KHORAAMSHAHA/ABADAN AREA, IRAN,
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Section
Platoon
Company/
battery
Battalion
Brigade
Division
0
? Mechanized
infantry
Self-pro-
pelled gun
Artillery
? Aerial ob-
servat~on
Recon-
naissance
-X- Brigade area
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26. (S/D) Three HIP, one SUPER FRELON, and one robable Alouette helicopters were observed
in the Al Basrah area near Ash Shuaybah SA-2 SAM Site 5 nm southwest of Shaibah
27. (SAD) A tank company was deployed in revetments within the vehicle arking area at Tikrit
Barracks Division and Brigade Headquarters Albu Ali Three tank battal-
ions, one mechanized infantry battalion, and one chemical defense/medical unit remained out of garrison,
28. (S/D) Twenty-four trucks in revetments and five trucks in the o en were observed throughout
Balikiyan Military Camp 50 nm northwest of Kirkuk No evidence of
battle damage was observed.
29. (S/D) Major elements of the 2nd Armored Brigade of the 16th Armored Division housed at
Zanjan Barracks and Brigade Headquarters in northwest Iran, departed between
Units absent from garrison included elements of two tank battalions, one
mechanized infantry battalion, and one divisional SP howitzer battalion. Units remaining include two
tank companies and one SP howitzer battery. Mechanized infantry equipment including six BMP, ten M-
113, and six BTR-50 also remained.
30. (S/D) The convoy of cars in a Feld next to Tehran Barracks and Ordnance Depot Abbasabad
October, and to 76
The number of buses in a vehicle parking
sector of the barracks fluctuated from the 61 to 142 on 28
31. (S/D) Eight buses were in the southern vehicle storage area at Tehran Barracks Ordnance Depot
and Headquarters Ashratabad the number of
buses had increased to 24. Ina ition, two groups of approximately 50 people (50 were near one of the
buses and 50 were in an open area near the buses) were observed.
32. (S/D) Helicopters remained dispersed in four areas around Tehran. Nine AB-214 helicopters
were at Tehran Barracks and National Defense University Qasr-E Qajar three AB-214
remained at Tehran Army MP Jamshidiyeh one CH-47 helicopter remained at Tehran
Barracks and Special Forces Brigade Headquarters Bac h-E Shah and five AB-214 were
again observed at Zendan-E Qasr Prison
AIR ACTIVITY
33. (SAD) No significant new damage was observed at any of the Iraqi or Iranian airfields (Figure 9
and Table I).
Iraq
34. (S/D) Three Iraqi airfields were imaged
35. (SAD) Thirteen Iranian airfields were imaged during this period. On partial coverage of Khatami
AB Airfield, anew 35mm AA site was deployed immediately north of the hangarette dispersal area. A
major portion of the airfield was cloud covered; however, 13 F-14, two probable F-14, and five probable
aircraft were in the hangarette dispersal area.
^ 36. (S/D) Possible repair of previous bomb damage was observed near the northwest end of runway
NAVAL ACTIVITY
Iraq
37. (SAD) No battle damage was observed at Al Basrah Naval Base
One Osa PTG, three P-6 PT, and three Yevgenya MSI were moored at the naval base. Two SO-1 PCS, one
T-43 MSF, two Polnocny LSM, and one Split-B AX were moored in midstream near the naval base. Two
P-6 PT were moored at a quay 2 nm upriver from the naval base.
38. (S/D) Damage was observed at Khorramshahr Naval Base Repair and Storage Facility C
One building had been destroyed, a second had been heavily damaged, and a
third building had sustained roof damage. One MK-III PB and one LCU remained at the quay.
(Continued p. 19)
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FIGURE 4, GROUND FORCES ACTIVITY, ANVAl AREA, IRAN
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Self~pro~
yelled gun
Artillery
-x- Brigade area
(+lequates to one additional maneuver
element
1-)equates to one less maneuver
element
L9 R-0.0.3/80
? Mechanized
infantr
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?
Platoon
Company/
battery
Battalion
Brigade
Division
Tank
Mechanized
infantry
pelted gun
Artillery
Aerial ob-
servation
Recon-
naissance
Brigade area
FIGURE 5. GROUND FORCES ACTIVITY, DEIFUL AREA, IRAN
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Table 1.
Air Activity in Iraq and Iran
(Items keyed to Figure 9)
Iraq
I
Iran
4
Date of AOB
Coverage Present
20 HIP: 8 Wessex;
I posy Alouette
3 HIND; 2 HIP;
2 SUPER FRELON
3 F-5; I C-130;
I CH-47; 8 AH-I/-
A B-214
6
Abadan Intern
Airfield
ational
K
Ahvaz Airfield
North
9
Manzariyeh Ai
rfield
0
10
Tehran Dosha
n/Tappeh
3 T-33:1 C-130;
Airfield
4 F-27; I CH-47;
4 AB-2l4
3 T-33;2 C-130;
6 F-27; I CH-47;
5 AB-214
13 F-14; 2 prob F-14;
2 C-130; 5 fighter
aircraft
13 Lav;m Airfield
0
fie
14 Zahe
ld
2 747; 2 747 SP;
O
1707; 1727;
15 Chah Bahar A
B Airfield
1737; I small
straight wing
16
Chah Bahar A
irfi
eld
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Operational
Status/Remarks
Nut operational because of
runway construction; nu
new damage
Operational: undamaged;
irregular patching (possible
asphalt) near south end
of the runway and un two
link taxiways: one SUPER
h'RELON, three HIP, and
one Alouette adjacent to an
SA-2 site approx 5 nm south
of airfield; partial coverage
Operational; undamaged;
graded-earth runway in
Iranian territory now
occupied by Iraqi forces
Operational; nu new damage;
possible repair of previous
bomb damage observed near
the NW end of runway 14
R/32L
Operational; no new damage;
both left and right runways
remain blocked by vehicles/-
equipment; partial coverage
Operational; no new damage;
four ZSU-57/2 deployed
around airfield
Operational; undamaged:
graded-earth runway remains
blocked by seven vehicles; u
second probable Rapier site
identified between the runway
and the main parking apron:
the Rapier site identified on
24 Oct remains occupied
Operational; undamaged;
partial coverage; Rapier sites
not covered
Operational; partial
coverage; heavy clouds
Operational: undamaged;
one F-14 taxiing toward
runway; heavy clouds;
partial coverage; a newly
identified 35mm AA site
deployed immediately north
of hangarette area
Operational; undamaged;
four vehicles adjacent
to runway
Operational; undamaged;
one 747 with Iranian
military markings and one
with civilian markings; the
707, 727, and 737 all
bear civilian markings
Operational: undamaged;
neither runway blocked;
however, the high-speed taxi-
way remains blocked by
one vehicle
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 ManzariGeh
SYRIA
SAUDI
ARABIA
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BAGHDAD
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