Changes

Khark Island has a relatively large supply of fresh water, allowing it maintain a high level of bio-diversity, including herds of [[gazelle]]s.<ref>[http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=16328 Visible Earth: Kharg Island, Iran]</ref>  Archeological evidence suggests that the island has supported human settlements since 2500 BC, and efforts are currently underway to document all the historical sites on the island.<ref>[http://www.payvand.com/news/06/nov/1294.html Archeologists to Excavate the Island of Khark]</ref>

Khark Island has a relatively large supply of fresh water, allowing it maintain a high level of bio-diversity, including herds of [[gazelle]]s.<ref>[http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=16328 Visible Earth: Kharg Island, Iran]</ref>  Archeological evidence suggests that the island has supported human settlements since 2500 BC, and efforts are currently underway to document all the historical sites on the island.<ref>[http://www.payvand.com/news/06/nov/1294.html Archeologists to Excavate the Island of Khark]</ref>

Because of its economic importance, Khark was a target of [[Iraq]]i attacks throughout the Iran-Iraq War.  The first air raid to hit the Khark facilities was on December 24, 1980, and Iraq later declared the waters around Khark an [[exclusion zone]] and that any ship approaching or leaving Khark would be attacked.  Although Iranian air defenses, including a HAWK [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] site on the island itself, made the EZ difficult to enforce, several tankers from various nations were successfully attacked.<ref>[http://www.payvand.com/news/06/nov/1294.html Tanker War, 1980-1986]</ref>  Between August and December of 1985, Khark was the focus of an intensive aerial campaign.  The nearly sixty air attacks that took place over the four month period caused only limited damage, but forced Iran to redeploy military assets in response.<ref>''The Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988'', by Efraim Karsh, Osprey Publishing, 2002</ref>

Because of its economic importance, Khark was a target of [[Iraq]]i attacks throughout the Iran-Iraq War.  The first air raid to hit the Khark facilities was on December 24, 1980, and Iraq later declared the waters around Khark an [[exclusion zone]] and that any ship approaching or leaving Khark would be attacked.  Although Iranian air defenses, including a HAWK [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] site on the island itself, made the EZ difficult to enforce, several tankers from various nations were successfully attacked.<ref>[http://www.payvand.com/news/06/nov/1294.html Tanker War, 1980-1986]</ref>  Between August and December of 1985, Khark was the focus of an intensive aerial campaign.  The nearly sixty air attacks that took place over the four-month period caused only limited damage, but forced Iran to redeploy military assets in response.<ref>''The Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988'', by Efraim Karsh, Osprey Publishing, 2002</ref>

The most destructive attack took place near the end of the war, on March 19, 1988.  The first wave of aircraft, four [[Tupolev Tu-22]] “Blinders” and six [[Dassault Mirage F1|Mirage F1s]], attacked shortly after 0100 hours.  Two of the Mirages hit and badly damaged the tanker ''Kyrnicos'' with [[Exocet]] missiles, and the Tupolevs destroyed the supertankers ''Ava’i'' and ''Sanadaj'' with unguided bombs, killing 48 men.  The second wave, consisting of two Tu-22s and twelve Iraqi fighter-bombers, arrived at 0930 hours, and were met by two Iranian [[F-14 Tomcat]]s and two [[F-4 Phantom]]s.  The defending fighters downed both Blinders and a [[MiG-25]], while the HAWK battery at Khark shot down a [[MiG-23]] and a [[Sukhoi Su-22]].<ref>''Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat'', by Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop</ref>

The most destructive attack took place near the end of the war, on March 19, 1988.  The first wave of aircraft, four [[Tupolev Tu-22]] “Blinders” and six [[Dassault Mirage F1|Mirage F1s]], attacked shortly after 0100 hours.  Two of the Mirages hit and badly damaged the tanker ''Kyrnicos'' with [[Exocet]] missiles, and the Tupolevs destroyed the supertankers ''Ava’i'' and ''Sanadaj'' with unguided bombs, killing 48 men.  The second wave, consisting of two Tu-22s and twelve Iraqi fighter-bombers, arrived at 0930 hours, and were met by two Iranian [[F-14 Tomcat]]s and two [[F-4 Phantom]]s.  The defending fighters downed both Blinders and a [[MiG-25]], while the HAWK battery at Khark shot down a [[MiG-23]] and a [[Sukhoi Su-22]].<ref>''Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat'', by Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop</ref>