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Date: 652 BC
Place: 28 miles west of Susa [32°12'41.97''N and 47°45'44.88''E]
Participants: Assyria ¤ Elam
Result: Decisive Assyrian victory
Consequence: The beginning of the fall of Elam and the rise of the Iranian tribes in the area
The Elamites had a bad habit of interfering in the domestic policies of their Babylonian allies, who were in the Assyrian sphere of interest. They had also aided the Babylonians in several rebellions. A major showdown between these rivals was inevitable. Ashurbanipal, the grandson of Sennacherib and king of Assyria, saw the Elamites as a potential threat due to their geopolitical situation close to the trading routes of Mesopotamia and The Iranian plateau. The Assyrians figured out that the wisest move was an assault on Elam, because by annexing Elam, they could secure their trade and they could prevent potential rebellions by the Babylonians.
(The relief of Ashubanipal, livius.org)
Therefore they attacked the Elamites and defeated them decisively in the Battle of the Ulaï River. Ashurbanipal even made reliefs in the palace of Sennacherib, depicting his victory over their historical adversaries.
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