A few days after the end of the Seventh Battle of the Isonzo, the Supreme Command decided to continue its offensive to wear out the Austro-Hungarian army. On 30th September the usual bombardments that preceded military action started again but were interrupted after a short while in view of adverse weather conditions. As a result Borojevic was able to continue for a few more days with the reorganization of the defence lines while waiting for the arrival of the two divisions that were promised by Conrad.
After abundant rainfall, on 09th October the bombardments against the Austro-Hungarian frontlines were resumed. The Italian offensive envisaged action by the Third Army in the region of Nova Vas (a village between Doberdò del Lago and Kostanjevica) and penetration further north by the Second Army. On 10th October the offensive registered some small progress by the latter while the men of Emanuele Filiberto were turned back forcefully. They reached Iamiano (a small village to the south-east of Doberdò) but failed to keep it under their control. The Czech riflemen placed on Height 144 (near Lago di Pietrarossa) succeeded in repelling all the Italian attempts.
Once again the number of men who died, who were injured or captured on both sides in only three days of battle was impressive. Both Italy as well as Austro-Hungary lost about 25,000 men while Iamiano was completely razed to the ground.
It is worth underlining, however, that this battle represented at least in theory one of the most dramatic moments for the Habsburg Empire. While Cadorna and his military commanders were unaware, the resistance at Iamiano saved the destiny of that front. In fact the Austro-Hungarian commanders, after the withdrawal that took place in August, were still thinking about how to organize the new defensive lines. In those days a high ranking officer sent by Vienna to visit Vipacco Valley suggested the organization of a new fortified line that would be placed further back when compared to the first one (by about three kilometres) and that would take advantage of the maze of rocky paths and of the numerous natural caverns around Mount Ermada.
When the combatants reached Iamiano, the new defensive lines on the Ermada were still inadequate and if the army of the House of Savoy had continued along this road, it would most probably have succeeded in breaking through and in advancing towardsTrieste.
