Changes

'''Khark Island''' (also called '''Kharg Island''') is an island in the northern part of the [[Persian Gulf]], located 16 miles off the coast of [[Iran]].  It is the site of Iran's primary oil export terminal in the Gulf, and as such was the target of several bombing attacks during the [[Iran-Iraq War]].

'''Kharg Island''' (also called '''Khark Island''') is an island in the northern part of the [[Persian Gulf]], located 16 miles off the coast of [[Iran]].  It is the site of Iran's primary oil export terminal in the Gulf, and as such was the target of several bombing attacks during the [[Iran-Iraq War]].

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>

Kharg 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 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, Kharg was a target of [[Iraq]]i attacks throughout the Iran-Iraq War.  The first air raid to hit the Kharg facilities was on December 24, 1980, and Iraq later declared the waters around Kharg an [[exclusion zone]] and that any ship approaching or leaving Kharg 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 1985, Kharg 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 Kharg 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>

==References==

==References==