Key Facts
- Duration
- April 1988 – July 1988
- Number of offensives
- 5
- Initial objective
- Recapture of the al-Faw peninsula
- Final result
- All Iranian forces expelled from Iraq
Strategic Narrative Overview
Beginning in April 1988, Iraq launched the first of five coordinated offensives under the Tawakalna ala Allah campaign. The initial assault retook the al-Faw peninsula with unexpected speed, as Iranian defensive lines collapsed rapidly. Encouraged by this success, Iraqi commanders expanded the campaign's scope, pressing further to clear Iranian forces from the Majnoon Islands and other occupied areas, ultimately pushing all Iranian troops out of Iraqi territory by July 1988.
01 / The Origins
By 1988, the Iran–Iraq War had dragged on for nearly eight years, with Iran having seized significant Iraqi territory including the strategic al-Faw peninsula in 1986. Iraq, having rebuilt and re-equipped its military, sought to reclaim lost ground. The operations were launched against a backdrop of Iranian exhaustion and declining troop morale, providing Iraq an opportunity to shift the war's momentum decisively in its favor.
03 / The Outcome
By July 1988, Iraq had expelled all Iranian forces from its soil and even launched renewed incursions into Iranian territory. The campaign's success fundamentally altered the war's balance, contributing directly to Iran's decision to accept UN Security Council Resolution 598. A ceasefire was agreed in August 1988, ending the Iran–Iraq War with Iraq in a significantly stronger military and territorial position than it had held in years.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.