Iraq pushes offensive in Iranian hilltop area

Iraq launches a new thrust in the hilly central sector of the Persian Gulf war battlefront against Iran after a frontline conference between President Saddam Hussein and Iraqi commanders. The Iraqi push is designed to win control of more easily defensible hilltop positions in Iran's rugged Ilam Province. Sources have said that Iraq would not try to take more Iranian towns until after the present meeting of nonaligned nations in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, Iran reported that 300 Iraqis were killed in the Saif Saad sector as they tried to seize control of the Maimak Heights, a strategic range of hills inside Iran.