Iran reports new push into Iraqi territory

November 17, 1982

Iran said Tuesday it had pushed farther into Iraqi territory in two big new attacks along the central and southern fronts of the Persian Gulf war, but President Saddam Hussein of Iraq said both assaults had been crushed.

Tehran radio, monitored in London, said strategic heights inside Iraqi territory were captured in both attacks, on the central sector east of Baghdad and also in the southern sector. It was not clear whether the Iranians were trying to push right into Iraq or were merely trying to recapture strips of disputed border territory.