The testing ground was the three and one-half week Iranian offensive in the Basra area.

The officials confirmed that one soldier was missing and presumed dead and four were wounded in an incident in the Basra area on Saturday.

Officials said they were transferring to the Basra area some gasoline from military forces as well as at least 25 million liters seized from smugglers.

Today it is found primarily in the Basra area of southern Iraq (where they form the majority in many districts) although no longer in the city.

Between 18 and 29 April, two convoys had landed this brigade in the Basra area.

Otherwise, no major operations took place in the Basra area.

Iraq has also moved some light infantry and artillery south to the Basra area.

The official reason provided is that the Iraqi government should now be able to handle security in the Basra area.

We plan to establish soon a second field office in the Basra area, where we have already inspected a number of sites.

On Feb. 18, another strike was carried out against another Ababil-100 system in the Basra area.