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.
The invasion’s purpose, according to Saddam, was to blunt the edge of Khomeini’s movement and to thwart his attempts to export his Islamic revolution to Iraq and the Persian Gulf states. Saddam hoped an attack on would cause such a blow to homeland’s prestige that it would lead to the new government’s downfall, or at least end Iran’s calls for his overthrow.
