VOL. XXXI

NO. 34

30-MAY-1988

The Middle East Situation

Iraq's swift recapture of the Shalamcheh area near Basrah, which the Iraniansseized at great cost in early 1987, is evidence of Baghdad's growing confidenceand of a more aggressive Iraqi military posture in the land war. Moreimportantly, by pushing the Iranians back from Basrah it significantly reducesthe chances that Tehran will be able to deliver a knock-out blow to Iraq on thebattlefield. In Lebanon, Syria and Iran have reached a...