Capitals of Iran and Iraq Under Missile Fire for 4th Day

Iran and Iraq continued to pound each other’s capitals with missiles Thursday as the resumed “war of the cities” entered its fourth day. Iraq said it has “abundant” supplies for continuing the deadly exchange.

Iraq’s official news agency also said that warplanes bombed Dezful in western Iran and the southern city of Shiraz in the latest round of attacks in the 7 1/2-year-old conflict.

Dispatches from the official news agencies of both countries said Iraq fired two missiles into Tehran and one into Qom, the holy city of Iran’s Shia Muslim hierarchy, while Iran hit Baghdad with missiles three times. In four days, the estimated total has reached 38 missiles: 27 fired by Iraq and 11 launched by Iran.

Both sides are believed to be using Soviet-made Scud-B surface-to-surface missiles, although the Soviet Union denied supplying the rockets.

Since the non-nuclear missiles began flying Monday afternoon, Iran has listed 30 dead and more than 130 wounded in Tehran but said there were no casualties in Qom. Iraq has not given specific figures.

Although Iraq has said it had developed its own missiles, Western military analysts believe those being used are Scud-Bs with strap-on boosters enabling them to reach Tehran and Qom, both about 290 miles from the Iraqi border.

Iran also uses Scud-Bs, apparently supplied by its Arab allies Syria and Libya, but it does not need boosters because Baghdad is 80 miles from the frontier.