{"id":29920227,"date":"2026-10-28T11:53:37","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T10:53:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-kaman-99-1980-iranian-air-force-strike-iraq\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T11:54:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T10:54:09","slug":"operation-kaman-99-1980-iranian-air-force-strike-iraq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/es\/operation-kaman-99-1980-iranian-air-force-strike-iraq\/","title":{"rendered":"Operation Kaman 99: Iran&#8217;s 1980 Mass Air Strike on Iraq"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.et_pb_title_container h1.entry-title { padding-top: 40px !important; }<\/style>\n<!-- mfsh:top -->\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n.mfsh-trigger{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;height:44px;padding:0 18px;margin:0 0 26px;border:2px solid 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The aim was to destroy Iran's air force on the ground. It did not work. Iranian hardened shelters absorbed much of the damage, and the next morning the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-forces\/islamic-republic-of-iran-air-force\/\">Iranian Air Force<\/a> hit back with a massive air strike of its own.<\/p>\n\n<p>Iranians call it Operation Kaman 99. \"Kaman\" means bow, a reference to Arash the Archer of Persian legend. It was launched on 23 September 1980, the second day of the Iran-Iraq War, by an air force that had just been gutted by revolution, and it still put well over a hundred combat jets over Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f4f6f9;border:1px solid #e2e7ee;padding:18px 22px;margin:22px 0 26px\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:700;color:#0d1117\">Quick Facts<\/p><ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:18px\"><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Date:<\/strong> 23 September 1980, the second day of the Iran-Iraq War<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Also known as:<\/strong> Operation Alborz; \"kaman\" means bow<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Strike aircraft:<\/strong> About 140-148 F-4 Phantoms and F-5E Tiger IIs (figures vary)<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Total airborne:<\/strong> More than 200 by Iranian accounts, including F-14 interceptors and tankers<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Main targets:<\/strong> Iraqi air bases including al-Rashid, Habbaniyah, Kut, Mosul, Nasiriyah and Shaiba<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Trigger:<\/strong> Iraq's surprise strikes on Iranian air bases, 22 September 1980<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">The day before<\/h2>\n\n<p>Iraq opened the war with a noon-time wave of strikes on Iranian air bases and military installations. Accounts put the attacking force at between roughly 166 and 192 aircraft. The results were thin. Iranian aircraft sat in hardened shelters, and only a handful were destroyed.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/iraqi-attack-mehrabad-airport-22-september-1980.jpg\" alt=\"Smoke over Mehrabad airport after the Iraqi strike of 22 September 1980\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">Smoke rises over Tehran's Mehrabad airport at about 14:15 on 22 September 1980, photographed from about 7 km away during the Iraqi strike that opened the war. Photo: Mhsheikholeslami via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Iran's air force should not have been able to answer. Purges after the 1979 revolution had roughly halved its manpower between February 1979 and July 1980. Yet it still had American-built <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/f-4-phantom-ii\/\">F-4 Phantoms<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/northrop-f-5\/\">F-5E Tiger IIs<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/f-14-tomcat\/\">F-14 Tomcats<\/a>, and enough aircrew who knew how to fly them.<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #1565c0;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7;display:flex;gap:20px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><em>&ldquo;Well gentlemen, we have been wearing these uniforms to serve Iran in such an hour... We have been trained for this moment.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Lt. Col. Mehdi Dadpay<\/strong> &mdash; commander of the 6th Tactical Air Base, Bushehr, briefing his F-4 crews on the morning of Kaman 99, as recalled by Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Fereydoun Samadi (Atlantic Council)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Over a hundred jets at dawn<\/h2>\n\n<p>The numbers are disputed, and the accessible sources do not settle them. The most widely cited figure, used by the Atlantic Council's 2020 history and other accounts, is about 140 strike aircraft, F-4s and F-5Es; one Iranian general's book on the raid is titled <em>140+8 Aircraft<\/em>. Counting F-14s flying defensive patrols and tankers, Iranian veterans say more than 200 aircraft were airborne. No reliable sortie total has been published in the sources we could check.<\/p>\n\n<p>According to the account by French historian Pierre Razoux cited in reference works, 40 Phantoms from Hamadan, carrying Mk 82, Mk 83 and Mk 84 bombs and Maverick missiles, refuelled from Iranian tankers and struck air bases around Baghdad, including al-Rashid, Habbaniyah and Kut, while eight more F-4s from Tehran made a second attack on al-Rashid. F-5Es went for bases in the north and south, including Mosul and Nasiriyah, and other targets included Shaiba near Basra.<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7;display:flex;gap:20px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><em>&ldquo;More than two hundred airplanes were airborne that day. We wanted to end the war as soon as possible. However, there were not enough ground forces to meet the enemy.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Rouholdin Aboutalebi<\/strong> &mdash; then an F-14A pilot at Shiraz, quoted by the Atlantic Council<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 6px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZuAJ35F235Q\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin:0 0 24px;font-style:italic\">Real Time History's documentary on the Iran-Iraq War, for the wider context of the 1980 air battles.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">What it achieved<\/h2>\n\n<p>Iranian accounts describe Kaman 99 as a turning point: Iraqi air bases near the border were reportedly out of action for weeks, and the Iranian air force held the advantage in the air during the opening phase of the war, while Iraqi ground forces pushed into Khuzestan. Iran's claim that Iraqi air efficiency fell by 55 percent has never been independently confirmed. The Atlantic Council calls the raid one of the biggest air strikes in military history.<\/p>\n\n<p>It was not free. Kash Ryan, writing for War Is Boring, reports that the outbound force lost no aircraft to enemy fire but that Iranian ground forces shot down at least four of their own F-5Es on the way home, a sign of how chaotic coordination was in the first days of the war. Loss figures for the operation as a whole remain contested.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/destroyed-iranian-c-47-abadan-1980.jpg\" alt=\"Destroyed Iranian C-47 at Abadan in 1980\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">A destroyed Iranian C-47 at Abadan after the Iraqi invasion of 1980. Iraq's opening blows failed to wipe out the Iranian air force, which struck back the next day. Iranian Air Force photo via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Kaman 99 did not end the war; it lasted eight years. But it showed that Iran's air force, written off after the revolution, could still plan and fly a large, tanker-supported deep strike within 24 hours of being attacked.<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 6px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mMb-4hB1J6g\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin:0 0 24px;font-style:italic\">A tribute to Operation Kaman 99 compiled by journalist Paul Iddon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 6px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vFtfz4QOrEg\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin:0 0 24px;font-style:italic\">An account of Operation Kaman 99, also known as Operation Alborz.<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Sources: Atlantic Council IranSource, War Is Boring \/ Warrior Maven, Iran Oral History, Smithsonian Air &amp; Space, Wikipedia (citing Pierre Razoux, The Iran-Iraq War)<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- mfsh:bottom -->\r\n\r\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger mfsh-bottom\" data-mfsh-placement=\"bottom\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button>\r\n\r\n<!-- \/mfsh:bottom -->\n\n\n<style>.mfq{margin:34px 0 8px}.mfq h2{font:26px\/1.3 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117;padding-top:22px;margin:0 0 6px}.mfq .qa details{border-top:1px solid #5C91FF;margin:0;padding:0}.mfq .qa details:last-of-type{border-bottom:1px solid #e2e7ee}.mfq .qa summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:16px;padding:22px 26px;font:18px\/1.7 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117}.mfq .qa summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.mfq .qa summary::after{content:\"+\";font:24px Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#3568e0;flex:0 0 auto}.mfq .qa details[open] summary::after{content:\"\\2013\"}.mfq .qa details:hover summary{color:#3568e0}.mfq .qa .a{font:16px\/1.7 \"Gilroy regular\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#454e5e;padding:0 26px 24px}.mfq .qa .a a{color:#3568e0}@media(max-width:680px){.mfq .qa summary{padding:18px 14px;font-size:17px}.mfq .qa .a{padding:0 14px 20px}}<\/style>\n\n\n<section class=\"mfq\"><h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><div class=\"qa\"><details open><summary>What was Operation Kaman 99?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Operation Kaman 99 was the Iranian Air Force's mass retaliatory strike on Iraq on 23 September 1980, the day after Iraq's surprise air attacks opened the Iran-Iraq War. About 140 F-4 Phantoms and F-5E Tiger IIs, supported by tankers and covered by F-14s, attacked Iraqi air bases including al-Rashid, Habbaniyah, Kut and Mosul.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>How many aircraft took part in Operation Kaman 99?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Operation Kaman 99 aircraft numbers are disputed. Most accounts give about 140 to 148 strike aircraft, F-4s and F-5Es. Counting F-14 interceptors and tankers, Iranian veterans say more than 200 aircraft were airborne. No reliable sortie total has been published in the accessible sources.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Which Iraqi air bases did Operation Kaman 99 hit?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Operation Kaman 99 hit Iraqi air bases including al-Rashid near Baghdad, Habbaniyah, Kut, Mosul, Nasiriyah and Shaiba near Basra. According to historian Pierre Razoux, Phantoms from Hamadan refuelled in mid-air before striking the Baghdad-area bases, and eight more F-4s from Tehran made a second attack on al-Rashid.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Why is Operation Kaman 99 called Kaman?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Operation Kaman 99 takes its name from the Persian word kaman, meaning bow, a reference to Arash the Archer, a legendary Iranian hero. The number 99 is said to refer to the pages of the operational plan. Iranian sources also call the raid Operation Alborz.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Why did Iran launch Operation Kaman 99?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Iran launched Operation Kaman 99 in retaliation for Iraq's surprise air strikes of 22 September 1980, which opened the Iran-Iraq War. Iraq had tried to destroy Iran's air force on the ground, but hardened aircraft shelters limited the damage, leaving Iran able to strike back with a large force the following morning.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Was Operation Kaman 99 a success?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Operation Kaman 99 is judged a success in Iranian accounts. The strikes reportedly left Iraqi air bases near the border unusable for weeks and helped Iran hold the advantage in the air early in the war. Iran's claim that Iraqi air efficiency fell by 55 percent is unverified, and some Iranian F-5Es were lost to friendly fire.<\/div><\/details><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What was Operation Kaman 99?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Operation Kaman 99 was the Iranian Air Force's mass retaliatory strike on Iraq on 23 September 1980, the day after Iraq's surprise air attacks opened the Iran-Iraq War. About 140 F-4 Phantoms and F-5E Tiger IIs, supported by tankers and covered by F-14s, attacked Iraqi air bases including al-Rashid, Habbaniyah, Kut and Mosul.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many aircraft took part in Operation Kaman 99?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Operation Kaman 99 aircraft numbers are disputed. Most accounts give about 140 to 148 strike aircraft, F-4s and F-5Es. 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Iran's claim that Iraqi air efficiency fell by 55 percent is unverified, and some Iranian F-5Es were lost to friendly fire.\"}}]}<\/script><div style=\"background:#f0f4ff;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:16px 20px;margin:32px 0 8px\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:600;color:#333\">Related Posts<\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/iraqi-air-force-flight-to-iran-1991-desert-storm-su-24-mirage\/\">Iraqi Air Force Flight to Iran: Saddam\u2019s 1991 Gamble With His Jets<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/vandy-1-black-bunny-vx-4-f-14-tomcat-playboy-livery\/\">Vandy 1: The Story of VX-4\u2019s Black Bunny Tomcat<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/jalil-zandi-iranian-f-14-tomcat-ace-iran-iraq-war\/\">Jalil Zandi: The Iranian Pilot Who Became the Top F-14 Tomcat Ace<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/eagle-44-oghab-44-underground-air-base-iran-rebuilt-2026\/\">Eagle 44: Iran Rebuilds Its Underground Air Base After Strikes<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Share this story On the afternoon of 22 September 1980, Iraqi jets swept across the border and bombed Iranian air bases, including Tehran&#8217;s Mehrabad airport. The aim was to destroy Iran&#8217;s air force on the ground. It did not work. Iranian hardened shelters absorbed much of the damage, and the next morning the Iranian Air [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":29920011,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[666,664],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29920227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history-and-legends","category-military-aviation"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Operation Kaman 99: Iran&#039;s 1980 Mass Air Strike on Iraq<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"On 23 September 1980 about 140 Iranian F-4s and F-5s struck Iraqi air bases in Operation Kaman 99, a day after Iraq opened the Iran-Iraq War.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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