The World - News from Nov. 15, 1987

Iraq said its warplanes bombed two oil fields and a refinery in southern Iran as part of its attempt to choke off Iranian oil exports used to fund the Tehran war effort. Iran said “civilian areas” were attacked and vowed retaliation. The attacks climaxed a weeklong Iraqi blitz on vessels operating along the Iranian coast and coincided with reports of Iranian preparations for a major offensive against Iraq despite U.N. efforts to end the seven-year-old war. Meanwhile, the United States announced the completion of its 17th escort of reflagged Kuwaiti tankers in the Persian Gulf.