Iran says it foiled Iraqis in a drive on Susangerd

November 24, 1980

Iranian forces foiled an Iraqi attempt to launch a major offensive on the southwestern town of Susangerd, Tehran Radio reported. It said the Iraqis moved an armored division from an area south of the besieged town to try to cut a major road. The Iranians killed many Iraqis and left Iraqi tanks burning in the area, it said. Iraqi troops briefly entered Susangerd last weekend before being expelled in fierce fighting, according to the Iranians. Tehran Radio also said Iranian planes destroyed a chemical plant, a cement works, and a power station in northwest Iraq, near the border with Syria and Turkey. An Iraqi radar station northeast of Mosul was also destroyed.