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{{Short description|1981 Iranian Air Force raid on an airbase in western Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War}}
{{refimprove|date=September 2012}}
{{POV|date=September 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox operational plan
{{Infobox operational plan
| name = H-3 airstrike <br /> {{lang|fa|عملیات اچ۳}} ([[Persian language|Persian]])
| name = Operation Attack on H3
| codeword = Ya Allah
| partof = [[Iran–Iraq War]]
| image = [[File:H-3 Main AB Iraq.jpg|300px|alt=aerial photograph of the H-3 "Main"]]
|partof= [[Iran-Iraq war|Iran–Iraq war]]
| caption = H-3 "Main" Airbase
| image = [[File:Operation H3 map.png|280px]]
| caption = Map of the attack
| scope = Strategic
| scope = Strategic
| planned =
| type =
| location = [[H-3 Air Base]], western [[Iraq]]
| planned_by = Major General [[Javad Fakoori]] ( the commander of the IRIAF)<br /> [[Bahram Hooshyar|General Hooshyar]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|32|44|56|N|39|35|29|E|type:event|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Al Waleed (town)|Al-Waleed]] [[Airfield]], Iraq
| map_type = Iraq
| coordinates = {{Coord|32.749177|N|39.591186|E|}}
| latitude =
| objective = Destruction of the Iraqi's Fighter jets
| executed = 4 April 1981
| longitude =
| map_size =
| executed_by = [[File:Military of Iran logo.png|22px]] [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force]]
| map_caption = Location of the H-3 complex in Iraq
| outcome = Decisive blow to the Iraqi airforce.
| map_label = H-3 complex
| casualties = (3) [[Antonov An-12]]<br />(1) [[Tupolev Tu-16]]<br /> (9) [[Sukhoi Su-17]]<br />(4) [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21]]<br />(18) [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23]]<br />(5) [[Dassault Mirage F1]]<br />(4) [[Helicopter]]
| planned = Mid-March 1981<ref name=BishopCooper2000 />
| planned_by = <br /> Col. [[Ghasem Golchin]] <br /> Col. [[Javad Fakoori]] <br /> Col. [[Bahram Hooshyar]] <br /> Col. [[Fereidoon Izadseta]]
| commanded_by = Col. [[Ghasem Golchin]]
| objective = Destruction of the [[Iraqi Air Force]] aircraft
| target =
| date = {{Start date|1981|04|04|df=y}}
| time =
| time-begin = 10:30am
| time-end = 03:30pm
| timezone = [[UTC+03:30]]
| executed_by = [[File:Seal of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force.svg|22px]] [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force]]
| outcome = Iranian victory
| casualties = 20 killed
| fatalities = 20 killed
| injuries =
}}
}}
{{Campaignbox Iran-Iraq War}}
{{Campaignbox Iran-Iraq War}}


The '''H-3 airstrike''' ({{lang-fa|عملیات اچ۳}}) was a surprise air attack by the [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force|Iranian Air Force]] during the [[Iran–Iraq War]] on 4 April 1981 against the airbases of the [[Iraqi Air Force]] at the [[H-3 Air Base]] in western Iraq. The Iranians destroyed at least 48 Iraqi aircraft on the ground with no losses of their own.<ref name=aja>{{cite web|last=Mehrnia|first=Brigadier General Ahmad|year=2014|title=Air strike on Al-Walid|publisher=IRIA's official website|quote=طبق گفته خود عراقيها در اين عمليات 48 فروند هواپيماهاي عراقي و بنا به برخي منابع ديگر تا 80 فروند هواپيما در اين عمليات منهدم شد و بخش زيادي از تجهيزات هوايي دشمن در اين عمليات از بين رفت.|url=http://www.aja.ir/portal/Home/ShowPage.aspx?Object=News&CategoryID=810a7911-4eb3-4cfd-a13c-5e59f996ecd9&WebPartID=a7489094-03eb-46f3-ad94-5ffcc14c0291&ID=53e89895-41a3-42cb-9f0a-60bb1606ad3f|access-date=13 December 2014|archive-date=13 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213220052/http://www.aja.ir/portal/Home/ShowPage.aspx?Object=News&CategoryID=810a7911-4eb3-4cfd-a13c-5e59f996ecd9&WebPartID=a7489094-03eb-46f3-ad94-5ffcc14c0291&ID=53e89895-41a3-42cb-9f0a-60bb1606ad3f|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Cooper>{{cite book |last=Cooper |first=Tom |date=2002 |title=Iran-Iraq War in the Air |publisher=Schiffer Military History |page=120 |isbn=9780764316692}}</ref> Based on the results achieved, it is considered one of the most successful raids in the history of [[aerial warfare]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-03|title=چهل سال بعد از عملیات اچ-سه در خاک عراق؛ سرنوشت خلبانان ایرانی چه شد؟|url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-features-56618519|access-date=2021-07-10|website=BBC News فارسی|language=fa}}</ref>
The '''attack on H3''' was a surprise attack by Iran during the [[Iran-Iraq War]] in April 1981, against the Iraqi Air Force.


==Operation==
==Operation==
[[File:Phantoms are fueling from Boeing 707.jpg|thumb|left| A example of the refueling that happened during the mission]]
[[File:Hoshyar.jpg|thumb|left|General [[Bahram Hooshyar|Hooshyar]], Assault Designer]]
In [[Saddam]]'s attempts for a successful offensive against [[Iran]] on the northern front between 12th and 22nd [[March]] of 1981, [[Iraq]] fired two [[Frog-7|9K52 Luna-M]] surface-to-surface Rockets against cities of [[Dezful]] and [[Ahwaz]].
Within days after this attack, commanders of the 31st and 32nd Tactical Fighter Wing in Shahrokhi Tactical Air Base (TAB 3, near Hamadan) planned a counterattack. According to Iranian intelligence, the Iraqi Air Force removed most of her valuable assets to its Al-Wallid air base on the Baghdad-Amman highway close to Jordanian border, part of H-3 complex. There at least two squadrons equipped with ten [[Tupolev Tu-22|Tu-22B]] and at least six [[Tupolev Tu-16|Tu-16]] heavy bombers as well as two other units with [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23|MiG-23BN]]s and [[Sukhoi Su-17|Su-20]]s were hidden, presumably out of reach of the Iranian Air Force. For the operation against Al-Wallid, the 31st and 32nd Tactical Fighter Wings (TFW) employed [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|F-4E Phantom]] crews, four [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14A Tomcat]]s, one [[Boeing 747-400|Boeing 747]] airborne command post and three [[Boeing 707]] tankers. Iran had noted that the interceptors of the Iraqi air defenses were usually not very active, especially not in Northern Iraq, so a plan was made to approach the Iraqi sites from that direction. Aside from Iraqi interceptors, Iranian pilots had to be careful to avoid SAMs in order to reach their target. [[Al Waleed (town)|Al-Wallid]] was almost 1500 kilometres from [[Hamadan]], and Phantoms had to fly over [[Baghdad]].


===The target===
To increase their chances, Iranian commanders decided to deploy their aircraft to [[Tabriz]] (TAB 2) first, and then from there they would have a "clean" route passing by [[Mosul]] and [[Kirkuk]] toward H-3. Since Phantoms could not reach their target without refueling in the air, two Boeing 707-3J9C had to be sent to [[Turkey]] in order to help the operation by meeting the attackers somewhere over northern Iraq.
The [[H-3 Air Base]] consists of three parts: H-3 "Main" (also known as Al-Walid, {{lang|ar|الوليد}}), H-3 Northwest, and H-3 Southwest. It is located near [[Al Waleed (town)|Al Walid]] town close to the Baghdad–Amman highway in the [[Al Anbar]] desert in western Iraq, near the Jordanian border and 1,000&nbsp;km from the Iranian border. It was erected to secure the western borders of Iraq and was also used in the [[Yom Kippur War]] in 1973.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}


According to Iraqi sources, during the [[Iran–Iraq War]], it was used as a support airbase for the [[Iraqi Air Force]] and housed no more than a few transportation squadrons and a squadron of [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21]]s, as well as retired [[Hawker Hunter]]s.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=waSstwAACAAJ ''Iraqi Fighters: 1953-2003: Camouflage & Markings''] {{ISBN|978-0615214146}}</ref>
The operation began in the early hours of the [[April]] 4,1981. A formation of eight F-4E, accompanied by two airborne reserves started from [[Tabriz]] (TAB 2) and crossed into [[Iraq]]. Two pairs of F-14 Tomcats stayed at low [[altitude]] over the border waiting for their return. Sometime earlier, two Boeing 707 started from [[Istanbul]] International Airport in [[Turkey]] (officially in order to return to Iran) and clandestinely diverted from the international commercial route in order to fly into [[Iraq]]. Flying at very low altitude between mountains of north-west Iraq, the two tankers meet the Phantom formation and refueled the fighters, before escaping without an incident back towards Tabriz. The F-4s then headed toward the Iraqi H-3 complex. Not a single Iraqi interceptor on the three bases of the H-3 complex was in the air or ready to start.


The IRIAF had received "credible" reports that Iraq – reinforced by the arrival of large amounts of ammunition and spare parts from [[Egypt]], as well as by the delivery of [[Mirage F1]]s from [[France]] and [[Tupolev Tu-22]] bombers from the Soviet Union<ref name=jamaran /> – had been preparing for an imminent major ground and air offensive against Iran.<ref name=BishopCooper2000 /> According to Iranian intelligence, the Iraqi Air Force had relocated most of its valuable assets to its Al-Walid air base, located in the H-3 complex. Aerial photographs sent to them by Israelis revealed that the H-3 airfield had more than fifty aircraft of all types scattered across the base in the open, without any protection.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Razoux |first1=Pierre |title=The Iran-Iraq War |date=2015 |publisher=Harvard University Press, 2015 |isbn=978-0674915718 |page=162 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FGsuCwAAQBAJ}}</ref>
The Phantoms split their formation into two sections coming from several different directions and attacked different parts of the complex. First they bombed both runways at [[Al Waleed (town)|Al-Wallid]] in order to block any Iraqi fighters from taking off. Additionally, bombs were used to destroy several hardened [[aircraft]] shelters. In the meantime cluster bombs of the second group of Phantoms wrecked three large hangars, two [[radar]] stations and five Iraqi [[bomber]]s. Subsequently, other parked aircraft were strafed. The Iraqi's still had not reacted in force, their anti-aircraft fire was weak, and the Phantoms had enough time to make multiple attacks and hit multiple Iraqi aircraft with gunfire. Iran claimed that 48 Iraqi planes were destroyed or badly damaged by the end of the attack.


As part of [[Saddam Hussein]]'s attempts to carry out a successful offensive against Iran on the northern front between 12 and 22 March 1981, Iraq fired two [[9K52 Luna-M]] surface-to-surface rockets against the cities of [[Dezful]] and [[Ahvaz]]. Within days after this attack, commanders of the 31st and 32nd Tactical Fighter Wing at the [[Shahrokhi Air Base]] (TAB 3, near [[Hamadan]]) planned a counter-attack to degrade the Iraqi Air Force's capabilities.
After the attack the Iranian formation turned back towards their own bases. No Iranian F-4E aircraft were damaged during the attack on Al-Wallid and although many Iraqi interceptors were scrambled toward them, none could catch up with Phantoms.


===The attack===
The Iranian attack against Al-Wallid is the most successful Iranian operation against any air base since 1967. Eight aircraft were responsible for destroying a large number of enemy aircraft on the ground in one mission.
Being almost 1,500 kilometres from the Iranian fighters at Shahrokhi Air Base, H-3 was out of range and if choosing a direct route, the Iranian aircraft would have had to fly over [[Baghdad]] and perform [[aerial refueling]] twice in Iraqi airspace, including once near Baghdad, which was heavily fortified by Iraqi air defence sites.<ref name=jamaran />


A team of IRIAF commanders (including Col. Ghasem Golchin, Col. [[Bahram Hooshyar]] and Col. Fereydoun Izadseta) planned a more sophisticated, surprise operation instead. Senior Iranian military officials had determined that Iraqi Air Force activity was lower in northern Iraq, so a plan was made to approach the Iraqi sites from that direction. To increase their chances, the Iranian commanders decided to fly their aircraft to [[Urmia Lake]] first and refuel in the air, and then from there they would have a "clean" route passing over the mountains of northern Iraqi–Turkish border, while keeping the altitude at less than 300&nbsp;ft (100&nbsp;m) to avoid Iraqi and Turkish [[radar]]s.<ref name=BishopCooper2000>{{cite book|last1=Bishop|first1=Farzad|last2=Cooper|first2=Tom|title=Iran-Iraq War in the Air, 1980-1988.|date=2000|publisher=Schiffer Pub.|location=Atglen|isbn=9780764316692|page=119}}</ref><ref name=aja /> The route was around 3,500&nbsp;km.<ref name=Bishop2014 /> Nevertheless, the Phantoms could not reach their target without aerial refuelling a number of times.<ref name=BishopCooper2000 />
Iraqi air defense command later claimed that [[Syrian]] interceptors were helping Iranians during the attack, and their radar followed Phantoms for some 67 minutes.<ref name="Assault
on Al-Wallid">[http://www.iiaf.net/stories/warstories/s1.html Assault on Al-Wallid], Historical Iranian attack against H-3 base in 1981.</ref>


The 31st and 32nd Tactical Fighter Wings (TFW) employed eight [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom]]s, four [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|Grumman F-14A Tomcat]]s, one [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|Lockheed C-130H Khofaash]], a [[Boeing 747]] airborne command post (which was to monitor Iraqi radio communications, and also act as a communication relay between the raiders and the IRIAF HQ), and two tankers (a [[Boeing 707]] and a [[Boeing 747]]) for aerial refueling for the attack.<ref name=BishopCooper2000 /><ref name=MEMIM>{{cite web|url=http://memim.com/h3-airstrike.html|title=H3 airstrike|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|website=MEMIM Encyclopedia|access-date=20 January 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129042258/http://memim.com/h3-airstrike.html|archive-date=29 January 2016}}</ref>
==Situations==
[[File:Major General Fakori 1.JPG|thumb|right|Major General [[Javad Fakoori|Fakouri]], Defence Minister]]
During the war, Iran was suffering from several problems.


[[File:Operation H3 map.png|thumb|right|alt=A map of Iraq showing the aircraft involved and their route.|Map of the operation, showing the aircraft involved and their route.]]
===International===
This mission was accomplished despite the support of [[Iraq]] by surrounding countries (including [[Turkey]], [[Jordan]], [[Kuwait]], [[Saudi Arabia]], and [[Arab States of the Persian Gulf|Persian Gulf Sheikdoms]]) along with support of the Saddam Hussein regime by the [[US]], [[UK]], [[France]], [[Soviet Union]] and [[China]].


The operation began at 10:30am of 4 April 1981. A formation of eight F-4 Phantoms (including six F-4Es and two F-4Ds), accompanied by two airborne reserves, departed from [[Hamedan Air Base]] (TAB 3) and proceeded towards [[Urmia Lake]] and then, after refueling in friendly airspace, crossed into Iraq, while the two reserve aircraft returned. A pair of F-14 Tomcats patrolled the area hours before and after the strike began to counter any interception attempts by the Iraqi Air Force. Meanwhile, three [[Northrop F-5|Northrop F-5E]]s from [[Tabriz Air Base]] ([[TFB.2]]) performed diversionary attacks on [[Kirkuk Air Base|Hurriya Air Base]] near [[Kirkuk]], with unknown results, but certainly distracting Iraqis away from the Phantoms.<ref name=BishopCooper2000 /><ref name=jamaran>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamaran.ir/fa/NewsContent-id_23309.aspx|title=عملیات اچ-3 یکی از پیچیده ترین نقشه های حمله هوایی جهان است}}</ref> The C-130H was flying near the Iran–Iraq border. Some time earlier, the two tankers, which already had been sent to [[Syria]], had taken off from a Syrian airport, and then clandestinely diverted from international commercial corridors in total radio silence, while apparently being bound for Iran. Flying at a very low altitude over southern [[Turkey]] and eastern Syria, they crossed mountainous northwestern Iraq and finally joined the Phantoms over the western Iraqi desert. Each Phantom refueled four times from the tankers, at an altitude of 300&nbsp;ft (100&nbsp;m), which was risky and far below any safety standards<ref name=BishopCooper2000 /> (aerial refueling is normally performed at {{convert|22,000|ft|m|abbr=on}}).<ref name=aja /> This was done to avoid detection by Iraqi radars; however, the fighters briefly appeared several times on the radars, but were mistaken for Turkish aircraft patrolling the border. Colonel Izadseta supervised the operation from a command Boeing 747 that was in Syria's airspace. The Syrian [[Palmyra Airport|airport at Palmyra]] could also be used for possible emergency landing.
===Internal===
Right after the [[Islamic Revolution]] in Iran in 1979, groups from extremist secular to Marxists, sectarians, religious, and royalists emerged. Some of them were active politically and others were committing crimes against civilians to put pressure on revolution leaders to receive more power and share in new established republic system.<!--{{Citation needed}} begin-->{{fix |link=Wikipedia:Citation needed#Citation needed |text=citation needed |class=noprint Template-Fact }}<!--{{Citation needed}} end-->


While approaching the airbases, the Phantoms split their formation into two groups, ''Alvand'' and ''Alborz''. This allowed attacks to come from several directions on the H3 complex. They bombed all three airfields within the H-3 complex.<ref name=Bishop2014 /> Achieving complete surprise, the fighters made several passes against all three airbases. Both runways at Al-Walid were targeted in order to prevent any Iraqi aircraft from taking off. Cluster bombs of the second group of Phantoms damaged three large [[hangar]]s. The Phantoms were able to make multiple attacks on multiple targets with cannon fire. By the end of the second group's attack the Iraqi military forces had not responded with a coordinated counter-attack. Effective [[anti-aircraft]] fire was also impaired due to the surprise attack. Iraqi aircraft were scrambled in an unsuccessful attempt to intercept the Iranian force.
These groups like [[Forghan]], [[People's Mujahedin of Iran]] also known as MEK, PMOI and MKO, [[Organization of Iranian People's Fedai Guerrillas]], corrupt military commanders affiliated with the former [[Shah]] regime and [[Komala]] and more.<!--{{Citation needed}} begin-->{{fix |link=Wikipedia:Citation needed#Citation needed |text=citation needed |class=noprint Template-Fact }}<!--{{Citation needed}} end-->


After the attack, the Iranian formation turned back towards its own bases. Iranian military officials stated that none of the Iranian Phantoms was damaged during the attack.<ref name="target p7-8">Cooper and Bishop ''Air Enthusiast'' March/April 2004, pp. 7–8.</ref>
These [[terrorist]] groups were active in attempting to assassinate pro-revolution politicians and innocent people who were going to mosques to pray, along with and political leaders, [[Islamic Republican Party|bombing political party offices]], bombing and killing ministers, prime minister and president [[Mohammad-Ali Rajai]], assassinate present supreme leader Ayatollah [http://khamenei.ir/ Khamenei].<!--{{Citation needed}} begin-->{{fix |link=Wikipedia:Citation needed#Citation needed |text=citation needed |class=noprint Template-Fact }}<!--{{Citation needed}} end-->


===Casualties===
Most weapons in hands of these terrorists were Israel's [[Uzi]] and [[Heckler & Koch G3|German's G3]]. Most of members and leaders of these terrorist groups now live in Israel, UK, US, France and Germany.<!--{{Citation needed}} begin-->{{fix |link=Wikipedia:Citation needed#Citation needed |text=citation needed |class=noprint Template-Fact }}<!--{{Citation needed}} end-->
The IRIAF claimed it destroyed a total of three [[Antonov An-12|Antonov An-12BP]] transports, a [[Tupolev Tu-16]] bomber, four [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21]]s, five [[Sukhoi Su-17|Sukhoi Su-20/22s]], eight [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23]]s, two [[Dassault Mirage F1|Dassault Mirage F1EQs]] (delivered only weeks earlier) and four helicopters,<ref name=Bishop2014>{{cite book|last1=Bishop|first1=Farzad|title=Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat|date=2014|publisher=Osprey Pub.|location=London|isbn=9781782007081|page=15}}</ref> as well as damaging eleven others beyond repair, including two Tu-16 bombers. Two Iraqi pilots and fourteen personnel were killed, together with three Egyptian and an East German officer, while 19 Iraqis, four Egyptians, and two Jordanians were badly injured. This strike degraded Iraq's capability to retaliate.<ref name="Fire">Fire in the Hills: Iranian and Iraqi Battles of Autumn 1982, by Tom Cooper & Farzad Bishop, 9 Sept. 2003</ref>


According to Iranian intelligence, prior to the attack there were at least two squadrons equipped with ten [[Tupolev Tu-22|Tupolev Tu-22B]] and at least six [[Tupolev Tu-16]] heavy bombers, as well as two other units with MiG-23BNs and Su-20s, which were hidden in the hangars. This has been disputed by Iraqi officials. Iraqi sources claimed that only a single MiG-21 was damaged in the attack; that the damaged hangars were empty at the time of the attack; and that its Tu-22s and Tu-16s were stationed at [[Al-Taqaddum Air Base|Tammuz Airbase]] due to the ongoing war with Iran. Iraq claimed that the bombers were stationed at Tammuz until they were retired from the Iraqi Air Force in the late 1980s, and then were bombed in 1991 during the [[Gulf War]].<ref>[http://www.algardenia.com/thaqafawaadab/9186-1931-2003.html ''The Power and the Strategic Role of the Iraqi Air Force 1931-2003''] Lt. General Alwan Alubosi {Chapter Three}</ref><ref>[http://english.dohainstitute.org/content/69dcd992-0838-488b-8166-dbbdf2317286 ''The Iraq-Iran War: Memoirs of a Fighter''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701053602/http://english.dohainstitute.org/content/69dcd992-0838-488b-8166-dbbdf2317286 |date=1 July 2016 }} General Nazar Al-Kazraji {{ISBN|978-9953029047}}</ref> Iraq denied losses of any Mirage F1s, claiming that all were located in an airbase built specially for them at the request of the French government. The Mirage airbase, called [[Qayyarah Airfield West|Saddam Airbase]], was located approximately 300 kilometers north of Baghdad.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=waSstwAACAAJ ''Iraqi Fighters: 1953-2003: Camouflage & Markings''] {{ISBN|978-0615214146}} Page 95 and on</ref>
Total numbers of documented victims of these terrorist attacks reached about 17,000.<ref name="Families of 17000 terror victims in Iran">[http://www.habilian.ir/en/ Families of 17000 terror victims in Iran], Habilian Foundation.</ref>


Iraqi air defense command later claimed to have detected the formation coming from the direction of Syria en route to the target, and their radar followed Phantoms for some 67&nbsp;minutes,<ref name="Assault on Al-Wallid">[http://www.iiaf.net/stories/warstories/s1.html Assault on Al-Wallid], Historical Iranian attack against H-3 base in 1981.</ref> although the Iranians achieved total surprise.<ref name=Bishop2014 />
===War===
The war was more difficult for Iran because the country suffered from harsh military and economic sanctions imposed by [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] after the Iranian Revolution, while Iraq was able to buy weapons freely.<ref name="res">List of United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning Iraq</ref>


==In popular culture==
===Target===
''The Attack on H3'' ({{lang|fa|حمله به اچ۳}}), directed by [[Shahriar Bahrani]] in 1994, is an [[Cinema of Iran|Iranian movie]] depicting the operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2083354/|title=The Attack on H3|date=20 August 1995|publisher=IMDb}}</ref>

Location of H3 airbase was in the west of Iraq in heart of desert near Jordan-Arabia-Syria-Iraq borders and very far from Iran's borders.


==References==
==References==

{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
[[Category:Military operations of the Iran–Iraq War]]
* [http://www.ettelaat.com/etiran/?p=47045 روایت بزرگترین حمله هوایی جهان] in ''[[Ettela'at]]'' (in Persian)
[[Category:Iranian Air Force]]
* [http://nahaja.aja.ir/portal/home/?paper/72067/470/97653/%D9%BE%DB%8C%DA%86%DB%8C%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%AA%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%AC%D9%86%DA%AF Operation H-3]{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} in the official website of the Iranian Air Force
[[Category:Battles involving Iraq]]

[[Category:Airstrikes]]
{{Iran–Iraq War}}
[[Category:Cross-border operations]]

[[Category:Iranian airstrikes during the Iran–Iraq War]]
[[Category:Attacks on air bases]]
[[Category:Cross-border operations into Iraq]]
[[Category:Military operations of the Iran–Iraq War in 1981]]
[[Category:1981 in aviation]]
[[Category:1981 in aviation]]
[[Category:1981 in Iraq]]
[[Category:1981 in Syria]]
[[Category:April 1981 events in Asia]]
[[Category:Airstrikes in Iraq]]
[[Category:Attacks on airports in Iraq]]
[[Category:1981 building bombings]]
[[Category:Building bombings in Iraq]]
[[Category:History of Al Anbar Governorate]]
[[Category:Attacks on military installations in the 1980s]]
[[Category:Attacks on military installations in Iraq]]

Latest revision as of 16:24, 2 July 2024

H-3 airstrike
عملیات اچ۳ (Persian)
Part of Iran–Iraq War
aerial photograph of the H-3 "Main"
H-3 "Main" Airbase
Operational scopeStrategic
Location
H-3 Air Base, western Iraq

32°44′56″N 39°35′29″E / 32.74889°N 39.59139°E / 32.74889; 39.59139
PlannedMid-March 1981[1]
Planned by
Col. Ghasem Golchin
Col. Javad Fakoori
Col. Bahram Hooshyar
Col. Fereidoon Izadseta
Commanded byCol. Ghasem Golchin
ObjectiveDestruction of the Iraqi Air Force aircraft
Date4 April 1981 (1981-04-04)
10:30am – 03:30pm (UTC+03:30)
Executed by Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
OutcomeIranian victory
Casualties20 killed
H-3 complex is located in Iraq
H-3 complex
H-3 complex
Location of the H-3 complex in Iraq

The H-3 airstrike (Persian: عملیات اچ۳) was a surprise air attack by the Iranian Air Force during the Iran–Iraq War on 4 April 1981 against the airbases of the Iraqi Air Force at the H-3 Air Base in western Iraq. The Iranians destroyed at least 48 Iraqi aircraft on the ground with no losses of their own.[2][3] Based on the results achieved, it is considered one of the most successful raids in the history of aerial warfare.[4]

Operation

[edit]

The target

[edit]

The H-3 Air Base consists of three parts: H-3 "Main" (also known as Al-Walid, الوليد), H-3 Northwest, and H-3 Southwest. It is located near Al Walid town close to the Baghdad–Amman highway in the Al Anbar desert in western Iraq, near the Jordanian border and 1,000 km from the Iranian border. It was erected to secure the western borders of Iraq and was also used in the Yom Kippur War in 1973.[citation needed]

According to Iraqi sources, during the Iran–Iraq War, it was used as a support airbase for the Iraqi Air Force and housed no more than a few transportation squadrons and a squadron of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s, as well as retired Hawker Hunters.[5]

The IRIAF had received "credible" reports that Iraq – reinforced by the arrival of large amounts of ammunition and spare parts from Egypt, as well as by the delivery of Mirage F1s from France and Tupolev Tu-22 bombers from the Soviet Union[6] – had been preparing for an imminent major ground and air offensive against Iran.[1] According to Iranian intelligence, the Iraqi Air Force had relocated most of its valuable assets to its Al-Walid air base, located in the H-3 complex. Aerial photographs sent to them by Israelis revealed that the H-3 airfield had more than fifty aircraft of all types scattered across the base in the open, without any protection.[7]

As part of Saddam Hussein's attempts to carry out a successful offensive against Iran on the northern front between 12 and 22 March 1981, Iraq fired two 9K52 Luna-M surface-to-surface rockets against the cities of Dezful and Ahvaz. Within days after this attack, commanders of the 31st and 32nd Tactical Fighter Wing at the Shahrokhi Air Base (TAB 3, near Hamadan) planned a counter-attack to degrade the Iraqi Air Force's capabilities.

The attack

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Being almost 1,500 kilometres from the Iranian fighters at Shahrokhi Air Base, H-3 was out of range and if choosing a direct route, the Iranian aircraft would have had to fly over Baghdad and perform aerial refueling twice in Iraqi airspace, including once near Baghdad, which was heavily fortified by Iraqi air defence sites.[6]

A team of IRIAF commanders (including Col. Ghasem Golchin, Col. Bahram Hooshyar and Col. Fereydoun Izadseta) planned a more sophisticated, surprise operation instead. Senior Iranian military officials had determined that Iraqi Air Force activity was lower in northern Iraq, so a plan was made to approach the Iraqi sites from that direction. To increase their chances, the Iranian commanders decided to fly their aircraft to Urmia Lake first and refuel in the air, and then from there they would have a "clean" route passing over the mountains of northern Iraqi–Turkish border, while keeping the altitude at less than 300 ft (100 m) to avoid Iraqi and Turkish radars.[1][2] The route was around 3,500 km.[8] Nevertheless, the Phantoms could not reach their target without aerial refuelling a number of times.[1]

The 31st and 32nd Tactical Fighter Wings (TFW) employed eight McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantoms, four Grumman F-14A Tomcats, one Lockheed C-130H Khofaash, a Boeing 747 airborne command post (which was to monitor Iraqi radio communications, and also act as a communication relay between the raiders and the IRIAF HQ), and two tankers (a Boeing 707 and a Boeing 747) for aerial refueling for the attack.[1][9]

A map of Iraq showing the aircraft involved and their route.
Map of the operation, showing the aircraft involved and their route.

The operation began at 10:30am of 4 April 1981. A formation of eight F-4 Phantoms (including six F-4Es and two F-4Ds), accompanied by two airborne reserves, departed from Hamedan Air Base (TAB 3) and proceeded towards Urmia Lake and then, after refueling in friendly airspace, crossed into Iraq, while the two reserve aircraft returned. A pair of F-14 Tomcats patrolled the area hours before and after the strike began to counter any interception attempts by the Iraqi Air Force. Meanwhile, three Northrop F-5Es from Tabriz Air Base (TFB.2) performed diversionary attacks on Hurriya Air Base near Kirkuk, with unknown results, but certainly distracting Iraqis away from the Phantoms.[1][6] The C-130H was flying near the Iran–Iraq border. Some time earlier, the two tankers, which already had been sent to Syria, had taken off from a Syrian airport, and then clandestinely diverted from international commercial corridors in total radio silence, while apparently being bound for Iran. Flying at a very low altitude over southern Turkey and eastern Syria, they crossed mountainous northwestern Iraq and finally joined the Phantoms over the western Iraqi desert. Each Phantom refueled four times from the tankers, at an altitude of 300 ft (100 m), which was risky and far below any safety standards[1] (aerial refueling is normally performed at 22,000 ft (6,700 m)).[2] This was done to avoid detection by Iraqi radars; however, the fighters briefly appeared several times on the radars, but were mistaken for Turkish aircraft patrolling the border. Colonel Izadseta supervised the operation from a command Boeing 747 that was in Syria's airspace. The Syrian airport at Palmyra could also be used for possible emergency landing.

While approaching the airbases, the Phantoms split their formation into two groups, Alvand and Alborz. This allowed attacks to come from several directions on the H3 complex. They bombed all three airfields within the H-3 complex.[8] Achieving complete surprise, the fighters made several passes against all three airbases. Both runways at Al-Walid were targeted in order to prevent any Iraqi aircraft from taking off. Cluster bombs of the second group of Phantoms damaged three large hangars. The Phantoms were able to make multiple attacks on multiple targets with cannon fire. By the end of the second group's attack the Iraqi military forces had not responded with a coordinated counter-attack. Effective anti-aircraft fire was also impaired due to the surprise attack. Iraqi aircraft were scrambled in an unsuccessful attempt to intercept the Iranian force.

After the attack, the Iranian formation turned back towards its own bases. Iranian military officials stated that none of the Iranian Phantoms was damaged during the attack.[10]

Casualties

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The IRIAF claimed it destroyed a total of three Antonov An-12BP transports, a Tupolev Tu-16 bomber, four Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s, five Sukhoi Su-20/22s, eight Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23s, two Dassault Mirage F1EQs (delivered only weeks earlier) and four helicopters,[8] as well as damaging eleven others beyond repair, including two Tu-16 bombers. Two Iraqi pilots and fourteen personnel were killed, together with three Egyptian and an East German officer, while 19 Iraqis, four Egyptians, and two Jordanians were badly injured. This strike degraded Iraq's capability to retaliate.[11]

According to Iranian intelligence, prior to the attack there were at least two squadrons equipped with ten Tupolev Tu-22B and at least six Tupolev Tu-16 heavy bombers, as well as two other units with MiG-23BNs and Su-20s, which were hidden in the hangars. This has been disputed by Iraqi officials. Iraqi sources claimed that only a single MiG-21 was damaged in the attack; that the damaged hangars were empty at the time of the attack; and that its Tu-22s and Tu-16s were stationed at Tammuz Airbase due to the ongoing war with Iran. Iraq claimed that the bombers were stationed at Tammuz until they were retired from the Iraqi Air Force in the late 1980s, and then were bombed in 1991 during the Gulf War.[12][13] Iraq denied losses of any Mirage F1s, claiming that all were located in an airbase built specially for them at the request of the French government. The Mirage airbase, called Saddam Airbase, was located approximately 300 kilometers north of Baghdad.[14]

Iraqi air defense command later claimed to have detected the formation coming from the direction of Syria en route to the target, and their radar followed Phantoms for some 67 minutes,[15] although the Iranians achieved total surprise.[8]

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The Attack on H3 (حمله به اچ۳), directed by Shahriar Bahrani in 1994, is an Iranian movie depicting the operation.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Bishop, Farzad; Cooper, Tom (2000). Iran-Iraq War in the Air, 1980-1988. Atglen: Schiffer Pub. p. 119. ISBN 9780764316692.
  2. ^ a b c Mehrnia, Brigadier General Ahmad (2014). "Air strike on Al-Walid". IRIA's official website. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014. طبق گفته خود عراقيها در اين عمليات 48 فروند هواپيماهاي عراقي و بنا به برخي منابع ديگر تا 80 فروند هواپيما در اين عمليات منهدم شد و بخش زيادي از تجهيزات هوايي دشمن در اين عمليات از بين رفت.
  3. ^ Cooper, Tom (2002). Iran-Iraq War in the Air. Schiffer Military History. p. 120. ISBN 9780764316692.
  4. ^ "چهل سال بعد از عملیات اچ-سه در خاک عراق؛ سرنوشت خلبانان ایرانی چه شد؟". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). 3 April 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  5. ^ Iraqi Fighters: 1953-2003: Camouflage & Markings ISBN 978-0615214146
  6. ^ a b c "عملیات اچ-3 یکی از پیچیده ترین نقشه های حمله هوایی جهان است".
  7. ^ Razoux, Pierre (2015). The Iran-Iraq War. Harvard University Press, 2015. p. 162. ISBN 978-0674915718.
  8. ^ a b c d Bishop, Farzad (2014). Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat. London: Osprey Pub. p. 15. ISBN 9781782007081.
  9. ^ "H3 airstrike". MEMIM Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  10. ^ Cooper and Bishop Air Enthusiast March/April 2004, pp. 7–8.
  11. ^ Fire in the Hills: Iranian and Iraqi Battles of Autumn 1982, by Tom Cooper & Farzad Bishop, 9 Sept. 2003
  12. ^ The Power and the Strategic Role of the Iraqi Air Force 1931-2003 Lt. General Alwan Alubosi {Chapter Three}
  13. ^ The Iraq-Iran War: Memoirs of a Fighter Archived 1 July 2016 at the Wayback Machine General Nazar Al-Kazraji ISBN 978-9953029047
  14. ^ Iraqi Fighters: 1953-2003: Camouflage & Markings ISBN 978-0615214146 Page 95 and on
  15. ^ Assault on Al-Wallid, Historical Iranian attack against H-3 base in 1981.
  16. ^ "The Attack on H3". IMDb. 20 August 1995.
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