The aim of the offensive was focused on capturing the Baghdad-Basra highway, which was a vital link between the two major cities, and for the movement of military supplies and vehicles to support and replenish the Iraqi defenders at the front-line.

Another objective included the crossing of the Tigris River, which would cut off Basra from Iraq and give an equally psychological blow to the country.

Although highly motivated and outnumbered the Iraqis, the Iranians were poorly trained and lacked heavy equipment, including armor, artillery, and air support to back up the operation.

The next night, Pasdaran and Basij forces advanced through the marshes to catch the Iraqi defenders off guard to the north of Al Qurnah.

The Iranians attacked from the Majnoun Islands, once again taking the Iraqis by surprise, striking at the southern end of Iraq's 4th army corps, on a 12 km wide front.

Iraqi airstrikes and intense artillery bombardments, using both high explosives and chemical agents, hammered the Iranian position.

[6] A short time after the initial attack on the highway, Iran had planned to launch a diversionary one against another area, but it began too late and it too was defeated.

Iran responded in kind with attacks of their own against Iraq, mostly by launching shells and medium range missiles at the port city of Basra.