In the previous program we talked about the formation of irregular war headquarters in Ahwaz by Dr. Mostafa Chamran, one of the main commanders of in fighting the anti-revolutionary mercenaries and Saddam's army. At that time, the current leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei was Imam Khomeini’s representative at the Supreme Defense Council. Some of his memoirs at the irregular war headquarters were told in the previous program.

In the first year of the war imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran by the US through its lackey Saddam, there was little coherence and discipline among the military ranks due to several reasons. The Iraqi dictator invaded the Islamic Republic only 19 months after the victory of the revolution while many currents and political figures had not yet taken clear stances towards the revolution. The Islamic Revolution gained victory under the leadership of Imam Khomeini and the self-sacrifice of the revolutionary youths who were highly devoted to Islamic values. However, many currents and political figures had ensconced themselves in the ranks of revolutionaries with different objectives and motivations. With the victory of the Islamic Revolution, they exposed their real identity and in order to take power and push aside the forces loyal to Imam Khomeini (God's mercy upon him), they separate their ranks from the Imam and loyal forces. One of these figures was Abul Hassan Bani Sadr, the first president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Thus a deep gap was forged in the military and political organs of the Islamic Republic system. Saddam invaded Iran in such conditions and the revolutionary and combatant figures such as Dr. Mostafa Chamran tried, by forming the headquarters of irregular wars, to organize the scattered forces from every part of the country to Khuzestan to stop the advancement of the Iraqi Baathist army. The headquarters of irregular wars along with the IRGC forces and the army jointly prevented the fall of Ahwaz and other cities and towns of Khuzestan province.

After the invasion of Saddam, most of the western Iranian border was the scene of resistance of popular forces along with the IRGC and the Islamic Republic of Iran’s army. Besides Khorramshahr, unforgettable epics took place in two other cities of Khuzestan, namely Susangerd and Howeizeh. In Susangerd, the name of martyr Mostafa Chamran became lasting for breaking the siege of the city. As for Howeizeh, the name of martyr Hussein Alam-ol Hoda gained eternal repute for preventing the collapse of the city. On the one hand, martyr Chamran in the headquarters of irregular wars tried to deter the enemy’s advancement through attacking its positions; and on the other hand, he promoted the liberation operations of cities from defensive to offensive to strengthen the position of the combatants.

The operation for liberation of Susangerd was one of these operations. It was considered a turning point in paving the ground for development of the war condition, driving out the Baathist occupiers and gaining fateful victories in continuation of the holy defense. The operation started on November 17, 1980 nearly two months after the outbreak of the imposed war.  

In his memoirs, Dr. Chamran writes: Our movement began. Meeting my friends in Susangerd gladdened me. I remembered their resistance in loneliness, and tears welled up in my eyes. I remembered the army fighters who were in Susangerd including Lieutenant Faraji and Lieutenant Akhavan. They contacted me with injured bodies many times. For three days, food had not come to them. "

The operation for liberating Susangerd city started on three axes. In this operation, each of the army units and the IRGC and the forces of the irregular war headquarters were assigned to advance from one axis. Dr. Chamran planned to enter Susangerd directly with his own group. He added, "Every moment we would move faster. Suddenly I realized a tank was coming fast towards us from the north of Karkheh River. I ordered my troops to be entrenched. Meanwhile, I sent one combatant to hit the tank with RPG. The tank reduced its speed for a moment. They looked to have noticed the Iranian forces. After a few moments, the tank increased accelerated and crossed Susangerd road and fled to the south and the efforts for hitting the tank failed." In such tough circumstances, Chamran called on the commander of the army’s ground force General Fallahi to give artillery support to target the enemy positions with the help of helicopters and warplanes.  

General Fallahi faced innumerable restrictions to fulfill Dr. Chamran's demand; so, he just sent a 106 mm rifle to help the forces under the command of Dr. Chamran. Chamran's forces managed with this weapon to hit 6 tanks of the Baathist enemy. Meanwhile Chamran forces had few RPG weapons to confront the Iraqi tanks. In these circumstances, our combatants amazingly stormed the enemy by chanting Allahu Akbar. Dr. Chamran was injured during the battle. However, he had a strange and lovely look at the phenomena and issues around him. Martyr Chamran, said while he was bleeding on the ribs "My dear legs, which have endured my weight throughout my life and have gone across mountains, deserts and roads; now that my last breath is approaching I want you to tolerate the wounds and pain and just as before be strong and do not oppose me on the scene, do not humiliate me.”

Finally, the Baathist forces were forced to withdraw. Dr. Chamran's health was failing him. He was transferred to the back with an ambulance taken as war booty from the Iraqis. The Iranian combatants arrived in Susangerd and joined the city’s defenders. There was happiness everywhere. They gathered in Jame’ mosque which was the center of defending Susangerd. Dr. Chamran believed that liberation of Susangerd was the result of close cooperation and coordination among the army, the IRGC and the popular forces. None of them could create such an epic single-handedly. Unity among the ranks of combatants added to their efficiency and yielded a successful experience in confronting the enemy. 

FK/RM/SS