The Iranian border city of Mehran, Ilam province on the foot of the Zagros Mountains was selected as the first target.

On May 15–19 the Iraqi Army's II Corps supported by helicopter gunships captured the city.

However, Iraq's attack was quickly smashed by Iranian AH-1 Cobra helicopters with TOW missiles destroying an unspecified amount of Iraqi tanks and vehicles.

[3] After the defeat, Saddam and the Baath Party held an "Extraordinary Congress" and decided on a full mobilization of the Iraqi Popular Army.

At the time the government feared that calls for the mobilization would lead to draft riots, but the response was good: young men – even college students – reported without incident.