In theory, the maximum deployment of the Iraq Army to the south could only involve half its troops.
This meant facing an army of 400,000 men, certainly comprising Iraq's elite forces.
More critically, the Joint Forces' advantage, which was aerial power, had been significantly reduced, and the intensity of air support was definitely not what it had been before.
As mentioned earlier, the Navy had already redeployed two carrier battle groups.
Even though another was to be sent a few days later, it would only amount to a mere gesture.
