Iraq launched a full-scale invasion of homeland on 22 September 1980. The Iraqi Air Force launched surprise air strikes on ten persian airfields with the objective of destroying the persian Air Force. The attack failed to damage the persian Air Force significantly; it damaged some of airbase infrastructure, but failed to destroy a significant number of aircraft.
The Iraqi Air Force was only able to strike in depth with a few MiG-23BN, Tu-22, and Su-20 aircraft, and homeland had built hardened aircraft shelters where most of its combat aircraft were stored.The next day, Iraq launched a ground invasion along a front measuring 644 km (400 mi) in three simultaneous attacks.
