The NLA's first major attack was launched at 7:30 am, Tuesday. The enemy's wireless networks were swamped with persistent requests for more and more troops. The offensive, carried out by 16 NLA combat brigades, had several fronts and continued through the night, inflicting tremendous losses on Khomeini's forces.
Early in the day, Khomeini's Air Force and Air Corps began constantly strafing and bombing the pass to gain time and await the arrival of fresh troops.
The High Command of Khomeini s forces issued two consecutive communiques reporting "130 combat missions" by its Air Corps and "30 independent missions" by its jet bombers on Tuesday. (Ressalat and communiques of the High Command of the Armed Forces, July 27, 1988)
The first NLA column headed straight into the pass under the cover fire of tanks, DShK heavy machine guns, double-barreled guns, and 106mm recoilless rifles. Other columns adopted mountain fighting tactics. They left their vehicles and heavy weaponry behind and climbed up the heights, opening various fronts around the pass.
One of the enemy commanders later described this offensive: "On [Tuesday] morning, the [Mojahedin] mobilized all their forces and launched a full-scale offensive. Three of their vehicles made it through our heavy artillery fire and came toward our forces." (Jomhouri Islami, August 17, 1988)
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