If you remember, we discussed the reactions of the Ba'athist regime of Saddam towards Moslem ibn Aqil Operation as the first small-scale operation after a number of major operations in the southwest of Iran.

After the start of Moslem ibn Aqil Operation, Saddam’s Ba'athist regime launched political movements at the UN to portray a peace-seeking image of itself and a warmongering image of Islamic Iran. Considering that the Security Council was dominated by Saddam's supporters, they issued resolution 522. The resolution used the phrase "The Situation between Iran and Iraq" instead of "War," and regretting the continuation and expansion of the conflict between the two countries, which resulted in significant human losses and substantial material losses, the UNSC sought a cease-fire urging an end to all military operations and returning to internationally recognized borders, and welcomed Iraq's acceptance of resolution 514. The resolution also stressed the need for immediate implementation of the decision to send UN observers to examine, approve and monitor the ceasefire and withdrawal of troops. The UN Secretary-General was also requested to report to the Security Council within 72 hours on the implementation of the resolution. The resolution, like previous ones, did not pay attention to Iran's legal demands, and there was no mention of the initiator of the war and how to compensate for the damages inflicted by the Iraqi attack on Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran rejected the resolution as it didn’t observe impartiality and justice. Then, Saddam's regime, besides attacking Iranian cities and villages on the border, expanded the range of missile attacks and bombardments to farther cities.

After Moslem ibn Aqil operation, it became clear that neither the Ba'athist regime nor its supporters and accomplices sought a just peace, condemnation of the aggressor, and the compensation of the damages caused by Iraq. Thus, the continuation of military operations was the only option for Iran to make Saddam and its shameless supporters surrender. Accordingly, Muharram Operation was planned. The operation commenced on November 1, 1982, in the Musyan area and south of Dehloran up to Fakkeh. Muharram operational area is a mountainous region in the southeastern part of Dehloran, on the west side of Ayn-Khosh. The Ba'athist enemy had control over strategic heights, which belong to the Islamic Republic of Iran. The purpose of this operation was to liberate the heights and the border mountains of Hamrain in the south of Dehloran and in the region between Fakkeh and Dehloran. In fact, this operation was the continuation of Fat’h al-Mobin Operation, and was launched to accomplish its goals. The Iraqi towns of Al-Emara and Ali Gharbi and River Tigris are located in the west of the area. The most important goal for Iran was the eastern shore of River Tigris, between the Al-Emara and Ali Gharbi. Maintaining these two cities was important for the Iraqi regime. Muharram Operation was designed on several axes and in several stages.

The first stage of Muharram Operation began with high speed and surprise, so that less than half an hour after the start of the operation, Iranian forces were able to capture a number of Iraqi forces in one axis and, on the other hand, forces from the Ba'athist enemy from a brigade were sieged by Iranian forces and mostly captured. The forces of three out of four bases involved in the operation, achieved their designated goals much before they had predicted. However, the units of the fourth base were unable to fully reach their goals due to the flood of the Dweirej River and some problems in supporting the forces.

In this operation, Iran had 60 infantry battalions, including 52 battalions of the IRGC, 8 battalions of the army and police forces, while the Iraqi army was estimated to have involved 20 battalions. The Iranian forces had 6 armored battalions against 10 Iraqi armored battalions and 3 mechanized battalions against the 7 Iraqi mechanized battalions. The aviation forces also participated in the operation with 10 Cobra helicopters and 10 214-helicopters and 4 Chinook helicopters. 110 engineering units had also been prepared for the operation. Muharram Operation gained many achievements while heavy casualties were inflicted on the Iraqi infantry and mechanized units. In this operation, the 100-kilometer long Ayn Khosh-Dehloran road was taken out of the invaders' hands. The cities of Musyan and Dehloran, and Ayn Khosh garrison were released from the artillery fire and Hamrain Mountains were liberated. The oil resources of Musyan, Bayat and the ponds of Zobiadat Pump House and about 70 oil wells were freed and 50-kilometer of the border were secured.

During Muharram Operation, approximately 550 square kilometers of the occupied regions were freed and about 330 square kilometers of Iraqi territory were captured by Iranian forces on the border. Also, 3400 Ba'athist forces were taken as captive and 7,000 were killed or injured. 150 tanks and personnel carriers, 250 vehicles, 51 guns as well as a number of anti-tank Malyutka missile systems and a number of anti-aircraft guns and mortar launchers were taken as booties. About 530 Iranian combatants were martyred and a more number were injured. Muharram Operation caused the IRGC to expand the quantity of its units.

Muharram Operation achieved its main goals and was an important victory on the fronts. Following the success of Moslem ibn Aqil Operation, Muharram Operation increased hope for further victories. Based on this, Imam Khomeini called the operation "the Great Conquest of Muharram". After Muharram Operation, the Imam declared in fatwa: "Now everybody who is able to go to the front should go to the officials, and if they find that the front is in need of them, it is obligatory to go to the front.”

Following the Iranian entrance to the Iraqi soil, the Iraqi Ba'athist army intensified its attacks to the residential areas of the border towns. After the Muharram Operation, the city of Dezful was once again the target of long-range missiles. Imam Khomeini (God's mercy upon him), in response to Saddam's cowardly targeting of cities and killing civilians, said: "Whenever Saddam is defeated on a front, with his long-range weapons, targets these deprived people, these Arab-inhabited cities that are deprived. He targets these or other Iranian cities whenever he is defeated. Wait till, God forbid, he commits a crime in the border cities if he can, and his friends and hypocrites commit the same in the country. And this is for the sake of dissuading the minds of his defeat if he can. This, while in the same Muharram Operation, Iran's armed forces advanced so much and expelled them from the country. Of course, there remain some regions. Saddam says in his speech that Iran attacked, but we defeated them. "

FK/RM/ME