By Press TV Website Staff
This historic victory, achieved in 1982, marked a decisive turning point in the eight-year Imposed War (1980-1988) on the Islamic Republic of Iran and became a lasting testament to Iran’s military resilience against a well-equipped enemy backed by global powers.
Situated along a vital international waterway in the oil-rich southwestern province of Khuzestan, Khorramshahr was once celebrated as the “Bride of the Middle East” for its beauty and rich resources.
However, early in the eight-year war, the city fell to the invading forces of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who enjoyed political and military support from Western countries, including the United States. The city remained under enemy occupation for 575 days, during which its resistance transformed it into an enduring symbol of Iranian heroism and defiance.
How did Khorramshahr fall?
The Iraqi attack on Khorramshahr began on September 22, 1980, the same day the US-backed Ba'athist regime launched its full-scale invasion of the Islamic Republic of Iran, targeting border towns and airfields across the country. This unprovoked aggression came just hours after Iran-US negotiations in Bonn collapsed over the fate of tens of billions of dollars belonging to Iran that Saddam had held in American bank accounts.
Encouraged by Washington’s tacit approval and promises of political and military backing, Saddam initiated the invasion, gravely underestimating Iran’s post-revolution military and paramilitary capabilities as well as the revolutionary zeal of the people.
He mistakenly assumed that the Arabic-speaking population of Khuzestan would welcome him as a liberator. That assumption proved disastrously wrong as he eventually found that.
Despite being defended by only a few thousand armed fighters, Khorramshahr held out against tens of thousands of Iraqi Ba'athist troops for a full 45 days.
Notably, Iranian women made up nearly a quarter of the city’s defenders, a remarkable fact that remains largely overlooked in Western historical accounts. These women played a key role in the liberation of the city, registering their names in the annals of history.
What happened after the invasion?
While the resistance was heroic, a thorough assessment reveals some critical internal factors that also contributed to Khorramshahr’s capture.
The administration of then-President Abolhassan Banisadr lacked adequate preparedness, despite months of escalating Ba'athist aggression. Banisadr’s flawed military strategy, often compared to the “Parthian shot” tactic, deliberately ceding ground to encircle and later strike the enemy, proved disastrous in practice, leading to heavy casualties and the city’s loss.
Furthermore, his reluctance to fully deploy popular forces, including the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and Basij volunteers, severely undermined the defense.
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, later explained why Khorramshahr became known as the “city of blood.”
He pointed to "traitorous officials" who were fully in control of the war effort but unwilling to credit the people’s fighting forces. He added that the IRGC, a “life-saving force,” was dismissed by “that fugitive” and his allies, who sought to monopolize power for themselves.
How was Khorramshahr liberated?
The removal of Banisadr from political and military leadership cleared a major obstacle to Iran’s war strategy. In April 1982, Iran launched “Operation Beit ol-Moqaddas” (al-Quds), a large-scale multi-phase offensive aimed at retaking Khorramshahr and other occupied territories in Khuzestan.
Tens of thousands of Iranian troops, including regular army units, IRGC forces, and Basij volunteers, participated with extraordinary conviction. Their superior numbers and exceptionally high morale, fueled by revolutionary devotion, proved decisive.
Iraq had fortified Khorramshahr with an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 troops, backed by tanks, artillery, and extensive minefields. However, Saddam’s forces suffered from low morale and logistical difficulties. The ensuing battle involved intense urban warfare, with Iranian forces enduring heavy casualties as they advanced through fortified positions.
After weeks of fierce combat, Iranian forces successfully liberated the city on May 24, 1982. Iraq suffered thousands of casualties and prisoners, forcing a retreat from much of Khuzestan and handing the Islamic Republic a decisive victory.
Ayatollah Khamenei, who served as president at the time, described the operation as a “huge, complex task” composed of two factors: first, military knowledge, command strength, and the talent of Iran’s faithful youth; and second – more importantly – the power of faith and courage derived from the love of faith among the warriors and the people.
He also credited the effective deployment of popular forces like the Basij and the IRGC on the battlefield to the liberation of Khorramshahr.
What were its consequences?
The liberation of Khorramshahr fundamentally altered global perceptions of the Islamic Revolution and the nascent Islamic Republic of Iran. Those who had predicted the new Iranian system’s imminent collapse were forced to reconsider.
Ayatollah Khamenei later reflected: “When Khorramshahr was liberated… it was a huge event; it was both politically important, militarily very complex, and socially… important and influential.” The victory dealt a severe blow to the West-backed Ba'athist regime and its regional supporters, who could not comprehend how an isolated, sanctioned Iran could defeat an army equipped with sophisticated Western arms and even chemical weapons.
Today, the anniversary of this triumph represents far more than a military milestone. It stands as a turning point in thwarting Western-backed plots across the region.
In the decades since, Tehran and Baghdad – and the people of the two countries – have come to see each other as allies and brothers. Together, they have fought against Daesh (ISIS) terrorism and resisted foreign intervention.
Each year, millions of Iranians travel to Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, where they are warmly welcomed by locals who share a common commitment to resistance against American arrogance. The long-standing Western strategy to exploit and divide the two nations has ultimately failed. Today, Iranians and Iraqis stand united on the side of resistance, with the memory of Khorramshahr still burning bright.
From Khorramshahr to the recent war on Iran
The legacy of Khorramshahr – unyielding resistance against overwhelming odds – has not faded with time. It was on full display once recently, during the 40-day war of aggression imposed on the Islamic Republic by the US-Israeli war machine.
Following the unprovoked and illegal aggression, which led to the assassination of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, top commanders and ordinary people, Iranian armed forces launched Operation True Promise 4, a massive retaliatory drone and missile strike deep into occupied territories and US military bases and assets across the region.
After nearly 40 days, the American side was forced to beg for a ceasefire after suffering devastating and painful blows from the Iranian armed forces, backed by millions of people on the streets across the country.
Iran’s powerful response once again exposed the limits of American power, shattering the myth of its military invincibility, and demonstrating that the same revolutionary resilience that broke the siege of Khorramshahr remains alive today.
Once again, the Iranian nation proved that when united and led by the principles of faith and resistance, it can overcome any foe – no matter how technologically superior or heavily backed. Today, Iran has emerged as one of the major powers of the world.
As President Masoud Perzeshkian noted in a statement on Sunday, marking the 44th anniversary of the liberation of Khorramshahr, today, Khorramshahr is the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
"Just as the brave yet battle-inexperienced people of Khorramshahr stood for days against an invading army, the nation today continues to demonstrate its resolve to the world," he said.
IRGC, in a statement, said the third imposed war was a hybrid war, but the firm, crushing, and instructive response from Iranian armed forces, supported by the epic presence of the people, thwarted the enemy’s goals, shattered its ambitions, and neutralized its sinister plots.
"The lesson of Khorramshahr is reliance on internal strength and active deterrence. Iran’s nuclear, missile, defensive, and offensive advances have forced the enemies to recalculate," read the statement.
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