The Operation was launched on 29 November 1981 and lasted more than a week. The Iranians used human wave attacks in their offensive for the first time in the war. Fierce fighting raged with the Iraqi defenders for one week with heavy losses on both sides. The Iranians were able to successfully liberate Bostan. During the operation both Iran and Iraq suffered heavy casualties. Iran was now able to eliminate an important supply route. This was extremely critical because Iraq did not have enough soldiers for a long frontline. 2,500 Iraqis and 6,000 Iranians had been killed in the fighting.