Young Arab general from Khuzestan; How much do you know Iranian brave commander, Ali Hashemi? + pictures

Pars Today- Martyr Ali Hahsemi was one of the epic-creating persons during the 8-year Holy Defense against Saddam.

General Martyr Ali Hashemi, known as "General of Marsh", was one of the brave and renowned commanders of the Holy Defense of the Iranian nation against Saddam. Having an exact and deep knowledge of the geography of the battlefield, he played a unique role in Iran's victories against the Iraqi Ba'athist regime. His name shines in the history of the Iraqi war against Iran as the key designer of the great operations "Kheibar" and "Badr". This valorous general found such a position in the hearts of people and fellow-combatants that the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khamenei, described him as, "Young Arab Khuzestani general"; a man who stood against the invading enemy and his name became everlasting in the history of this country. In this article, we have cast a look at the epic life of this great martyr.

Birth; beginning of life with faith and self-sacrifice

Ali Hashemi was born in 1961 in Ahwaz city, the throbbing heart of southwest of Iran. He was the elder child of the family who loved God and the Ahl al-Bayt (Infallible progeny of the Prophet of Islam) wholeheartedly. He spent his time in the mosque since adolescence. His mother relates on the issue, "Ali would stay in the mosque till late at night. He would broom and clean it with an indescribable love." Ali loved the Qur'an so deeply that he had written on the door of his house, "Learn Qur'an freely, only with a Salawat!"

Period of struggles: from revolution to formation of IRGC

During the turbulent days of the Islamic Revolution, Ali Hashemi was in the forefront of the struggle against the oppressive Pahlavi regime which was a puppet of the US. He was detained and imprisoned several times due to revolutionary activities. But, each time, he resumed his struggles with a new spirit. After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he played a key role in formation of the Islamic Revolution Committee and joined the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps as soon as the formation of this organization. He and his friends set up the revolutionary youths of Dasht-e Azadegan and founded Hamidiyeh branch of IRGC.

Marriage: short but lovely life

Martyr Hashemi married in 1984 whose fruits were a daughter and a son, called Zeinab and Mohammad Hossein respectively. But, he spent most of his time in the battlefronts.

Scientific activity: student of medicine who preferred defense

Ali Hashemi was not merely a combatant. He had a dynamic and bright mind, too. Concurrent with struggles, he was admitted at Mashhad University in the field of medicine and was even getting prepared for scholarship of American universities. But, as soon as Saddam started the war against Iran, he abandoned all personal aspirations and said, "The battlefront is my priority."

Participation in imposed war: firm dam against enemy

With the cruel aggression of the Ba'athist regime of Saddam. Ali Hashemi took over the responsibility of the hardest front, namely, the southern front. He impeded the advancement of the Iraqi invaders with prudence and courage and prevented the fall of Hamidiyeh and Ahwaz. He even changed the name of Karkheh Koor (Blind Karkheh) to Karkheh Noor (Radiant Karkheh) as the presence of the combatants turned darkness into the light of hope.

Establishment of Nosrat base: start of a unique epic

Nosrat base was shaped in the third year of the war upon the management and supervision of Martyr Hashemi. This base would carry out complicated missions of reconnaissance and operation. He would train native forces and designed the first amphibian operation in the war. Nosrat base had a very brilliant role in operations Kheibar and Badr so that even the senior IRGC commanders were able to go deep into the Iraqi soil in disguise to examine the battle maps of the enemy from near. What is astounding is that this base carried out 420 operations without being exposed!

Martyrdom: flying to eternity

Ali Hashemi was martyred in June 25, 1988 after the wide offensive of the Iraqi forces to Majnoon Island, as he was leaving the command headquarters. He was hit with a helicopter missile and martyred at the age of 27. At that time, it was thought that he had been captivated, but after 22 years, his pure body was discovered near the base of the 6^th corps and buried in Ahwaz after a glorious funeral.

General Ali Hashemi was not just a commander, but the symbol of steadfastness, a paragon of faith and love of God and motherland. His name will shine forever like the marshes of Khuzestan.

RM/ME