German Ship Attacked in Persian Gulf

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A West German container ship was attacked in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday by warplanes believed to belong to Iran, and Iran and Iraq exchanged air and artillery strikes for the fourth consecutive day.

There were no casualties among the 21-member German, Spanish and Portuguese crew of the Norasia Rebecca, which was attacked by two aircraft as it sailed east of Qatar on its way out of the gulf. Capt. Hans-Juergen Wiebe said that the ship was proceeding on its own power to its destination in Pakistan, where it will undergo repairs.

A single missile tore a hole in the starboard side of the 18,535-ton vessel, which had just unloaded a cargo at a Saudi port. The captain said the raiders came from the direction of the Iranian coast, circling twice before firing, but that he could not tell whether they were Iranian or Iraqi.

The air strike, in an area of the gulf usually attacked by Iran, brought to 15 the number of ships confirmed hit in the war this year.

Meanwhile, Iraqi said its warplanes raided the Iranian capital before dawn for the second straight day, “scoring accurate hits on their targets before returning to base.” Iran, however, said the attack on Tehran was a “complete failure, causing no damage or casualty.”

Iraq also reported that Iranian artillery killed three schoolgirls and injured 27 others students taking exams in the Iraqi port city of Basra. Iran, however, claimed that the victims were officials of the ruling Baath Party at their headquarters.

Iran said its gunners pounded other targets in Basra, including the seaside Sheraton Hotel and port facilities and compounds belonging to the Iraqi armed forces.

For its part, Iraq said it raided the Iranian city of Tabriz, 100 miles from the border, a day after it attacked nine cities, including Tehran, with 113 air force planes.