If you remember, we discussed the two operations Val-Fajr 2 and Val-Fajr 3 in the previous episode. These two operations were carried out in the west of Iran on a smaller area compared to the southwestern fronts. They gained relatively great goals which strengthened the morale of combatants. This showed Saddam and his supporters and accomplices that the Islamic Republic continues to hold the initiative.

The Iraqi army, after its defeat in Val-Fajr 2 and Val-Fajr 3 operations, resorted to bombardment of cities and villages of Iran. One of the bloodiest attacks was the bombardment of Gilan-e Gahrb city with cluster bombs on August 10, 1983 which led to martyrdom of more than 50 people and injury of nearly 500 others. Imam Khomeini, in reaction to these dastardly attack, said in a speech, "Saddam imagines that with such crimes he can impose peace on us; while each of his crimes distance him from peace and make us more determined. If, of a false assumption, anybody would imagine that we should make peace, with these crimes no wise person will think so. Because the families of martyrs and the bereaved ones will stand against them. A criminal cannot escape from crime through excessive crimes. Saddam, who has been defeated on the battlefield, cannot escape from his heavy responsibility through bombardment of innocent people."

After bombardment of the city of Gilan-e Gharb, Saddam tried to retaliate his defeats by bombardment of other cities and villages such as Andimeshk in Khuzestan province and Marivan in Kordistan province. Scores of innocent people were martyred and hundreds of others injured as a result of these assaults. The Ba'athist army would use USSR-made mid-range and long-range Scud B missiles. One month after the successful Val-Fajr 3 operation, the regime of Saddam also launched 4 surface to surface missiles toward the city of Dezful and 2 other missiles to the city of Andimeshk in Khuzestan province. These missiles hit the cities when people were asleep. As a result, 930 residential units and shops were destroyed or damaged in Dezful and 430 units were also destroyed or damaged in Andimeshk. 75 people were martyred and 250 others were injured. The vastness of Iranian cities coupled with limited capability of air defence system and arms embargo imposed by the supporters of Saddam, the Islamic Republic was not able to provide aerial shelter for cities and civilian infrastructure. But, Iran had the initiative on the ground as the brave and selfless forces of the army, the IRGC and Basij were fully prepared to do any sacrifice required in the battlefield.

Imam Khomeini delivered an important speech which was an answer to those who were optimistic about peace with imposed conditions. He said, "We want an Islamic peace. We want to, according to the rule of Islam, take revenge of the person who has oppressed Muslims and of those have shed the blood of Muslims in our country and their own country and have martyred ulema in their own country; we want to retaliate and cut his hand and we want to annihilate this ominous Aflaqi party; and that Iraq is administered by Iraqis themselves, by the Iraqi people and nation and not others like Saddam, who has violated the entire reputation of Iraq, Iraqi military reputation and Iraqi national reputation, and obliterated all reserves of Iraq through insanity."

Regarding the guidelines of Imam Khomeini, Val-Fajr 4 operation was launched on October, 19, 1983 with the codename Ya Allah (O God). This operation was carried out in the mountainous regions of western Iran around the city of Sardasht in Kordistan province in an area of 160 square kilometers reaching the Iraqi region of Panjvein. In this operation, 9 divisions, 2 brigades and 10 artillery battalions of the Islamic Republic Army and IRGC participated while Iraq had mobilized 16 infantry brigades, 7 commando battalions, 4 armored battalions and 15 artillery battalions.

Val-Fajr 4 operation lasted for 10 days and was carried out in three phases. The main goals of the operation were to liberate occupied territories in the west of Iran, to block the way of infiltration of armed elements of Kurdish parties loyal to Saddam and to maintain the security of Panjvein city in Iraq. Another goal of the operation was to take the cities of Baneh and Marivan and connection routes out of the reach of Ba'athist artillery fire. War in the operational area of Val-Fajr 4 was very tough owing to the arduous heights of the region. Therefore, the Iranian combatants had to attack the enemy lines for hours on the mountains. The mountains of the region were forested with no road in them. Thus, logistics and mobilization of forces was really difficult. However, these heights were captured by Iranian forces in three days.

Val-Fajr 4 operation gained the following results: totally 18 thousand enemy forces were killed or injured. 1000 of them were taken as captive. 27 tanks and personnel-carriers, 50 light and heavy vehicles, 5 jeeps, a few Sam 7 surface-to-air shoulder-fired missile systems, 12 canons, 9 vehicles with ammunitions and notable amount of light and heavy weapons and telecommunication systems were destroyed. The ware spoils of this operation included: 5 personnel-carrier tanks, 6 loaders and bulldozers, 200 light and heavy vehicles, 20 jeeps, 20 Sam 7 missile systems, and many telecommunication tools and light and heavy arms and ammunitions.

The reaction of Saddam's regime was very clear. They resorted to bombardment and missile attacks of cities and villages. For example, a school in the southern city of Behbahan was targeted by missiles which resulted in martyrdom of 95 students and teachers and injury of 400 others.

RM/ME