The World - News from March 20, 1988

Iran and Iraq escalated their attacks on each other’s cities, and Iraq also attacked Persian Gulf shipping. Iraqi planes bombarded Kharg Island, Iran’s biggest oil terminal, leaving at least two tankers ablaze, and Iran retaliated by pounding Iraqi border towns with missiles and artillery. Gulf shipping sources confirmed that two Iranian-operated tankers were set afire at Kharg. Iran said it shot down three Iraqi warplanes, which Iraq denied. Iran also said it attacked military installations in Baghdad and at least eight other Iraqi cities, while Iraq retaliated by firing two missiles into Tehran in a continuation of the “war of the cities.” Both sides reported civilian casualties, although neither government released any figures.