IRAN CLAIMS NEW VICTORIES NEAR BASRA
Iran said its forces had captured one of
Iraq's strongest fortifications east of Basra on the Gulf War
southern front in a major battle overnight.
    The Iranian National News Agency, received here, said
Iranian forces smashed four Iraqi brigades, killed or wounded
1,500 Iraqi soldiers and destroyed 45 enemy tanks and personnel
carriers.
    IRNA said the Iranian troops seized one of the strongest
Iraqi fortifications and breached Iraqi defence lines southwest
of Fish Lake, 10 kilometres (six miles) east of Iraq's second
largest city of Basra.
 REUTER
