In September 1980, among the units garrisoned along the Iraqi border, the IRIA had the 92nd Armored "Khuzestan" Division, with three armored brigades equipped with Chieftain MBTs and M-113 APCs (including the 283rd Armored Cavalry Battalion), including the 1st Brigade west of Khorramshahr and south of Ahwaz, 2nd Brigade west of Dezful, and 3rd west of Ahvaz.
In December 2012 Agence France-Presse reported that Ahwaz airport was to be relocated because oil had been discovered underneath it.
In Saddam's attempts for a successful offensive against Iran on the northern front between 12 and 22 March 1981, Iraq fired two 9K52 Luna-M surface-to-surface Rockets against cities of Dezful and Ahwaz.
Other soldiers were evacuated to field hospitals in Ahwaz and to medical centers in Tehran.