Shiraz 55th Airborne Brigade

Mohsen Shir Muhammad
11 بازدید

During the Iran-Iraq War, the Shiraz 55th Airborne Brigade served as one of the combat units of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces. The formation of this brigade dates back to the late 1960s. In 1970, two battalions, named 01 and 02, were established at the Baghshah Garrison in Tehran. Two years later, their forces were transferred to Shiraz, and دwith the addition of two more battalions, a brigade was formed as part of the Fars Division. Following the dissolution of the Fars Division, the Shiraz 55th Airborne Brigade was officially established in 1976.

After the victory of the Islamic Revolution and with the outbreak of unrest in Kurdistan, the 101st Battalion of the Airborne Brigade became the first military unit, aside from local forces in the western region, to deploy from its base in Shiraz to Kurdistan. It engaged anti-revolutionary forces in Sardasht, contributing to the liberation of the area with 47 martyrs and 127 wounded. Subsequently, the 126th, 158th, and 146th battalions, as well as the 55th Brigade’s reconnaissance company, were deployed to Kurdistan.[1]

In early October 1980, due to Iraq’s threats to attack Iran’s three Persian Gulf islands, forces from the 55th Airborne Brigade were deployed to join the naval commandos on Greater and Lesser Tunb islands, defending these areas.[2] Following the start of the Iran-Iraq War and the potential fall of the Naderi Bridge in western Dezful, on September 30, 1980, these forces were redeployed to Dezful to defend the region.[3]

With the onset of the war, most of the brigade’s forces were sent to southern Iran. In October 1980, the 135th Battalion of the Airborne Brigade, under the command of the 84th Brigade of the Army, defended the heights north of Dasht-e Abbas to Mehran.[4] On December 2, 1980, the two remaining battalions of the 55th Brigade in Shiraz were transferred to western Dezful, where, alongside the 135th Battalion, they took responsibility for defending Reqabiyeh before being deployed to the Karkheh Kor front.[5]

In 1982, the brigade participated in Operation Fath al-Mubin as part of the Fath Headquarters. During this operation, the brigade, alongside the units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), engaged in combat to capture the eastern heights of Dasht-e Abbas and Abu Salbi Khat Hill. After seven days of fighting, the Iranian forces liberated approximately 2200 square kilometers of occupied territory in western Khuzestan, from Ain Khosh to Fakkeh.[6] In this operation, the 55th Brigade, in coordination with IRGC forces, successfully captured the Reqabiyeh Pass and Mishdaq, securing the heights in the Raqabiyeh region.[7]

In May 1982, the plan of Operation Beit al-Muqaddas was prepared to be carried out in Khuzestan. It was decided that the Army and IRGC forces would attack south of the Karkheh River and west of the Karun River, destroying enemy forces, liberating Khorramshahr and Hoveizeh, and reaching international borders. The 55th Airborne Brigade, as part of the Fath 4 Headquarters, alongside the 37th Armored Brigade of the Army and the 25th Karbala Brigade of the IRGC, was deployed to the central front of the operation. The Fath Headquarters was tasked with crossing the Karun River to attack enemy forces, a critical factor in the operation’s success, as the main effort of Beit al-Muqaddas relied on crossing the Karun and securing a bridgehead. On April 30, 1982, the Fath Headquarters forces, including the 55th Brigade, crossed the Karun River, caught the enemy off guard, and reached the Ahvaz-Khorramshahr Road. As the operation progressed, these forces defeated the enemy and advanced to the international borders in southwestern Khuzestan. In the third phase, the 55th Brigade was detached from Fath Headquarters and, alongside the 25th Karbala Brigade, defended the Shalamcheh road. These forces later played a role in encircling and liberating Khorramshahr.[8]

In October 1982, the 55th Airborne Brigade participated in Operation Moslim ibn Aqil to liberate western areas of Sumar. In February 1983, it took part in Operation Preliminary Val Fajr to capture the western Mishdaq region.[9] In April 1983, during Operation Val Fajr 1, the brigade, with four infantry battalions and one 105 mm artillery battalion, operated under Najaf 1 Headquarters alongside IRGC units. After the operation, the brigade assumed defensive responsibilities.[10]

The 55th Brigade also participated in Operation Kheibar in February-March 1984, which resulted in the capture of Majnoon Island. Other operations included Operation Badr (March 1985 in the Majnoon Islands) and Operation Qader (July-September 1985 in the Haj Omran region).[11]

During the Iran-Iraq War, the 55th Airborne Brigade expanded its structure beyond its five combat battalions and independent companies, converting three Quds battalions into the 753rd, 754th, and 796th Commando Battalions. Later, a training battalion was added, stationed at the brigade’s current garrison in Shiraz, responsible for recruiting and training both professional and conscripted personnel. During the war, the 55th Airborne Brigade was the only unit in the armed forces with eight combat battalions, equivalent to a division in strength. The brigade participated in 27 operations, primarily as a frontline-breaking unit. Over 2350 of its forces were martyred, 12700 were wounded, and more than 700 were taken into captivity by the Iraqis.

After the war, the brigade’s units returned to Shiraz. In 1991, parachute production began, and the brigade established a unit at the Shahid Douran Airbase in Shiraz, tasked with providing parachutes and managing paratrooper requirements. Currently, the 55th Airborne Brigade produces various parachutes, including those for curved-trajectory weapons, 81 mm and 120 mm illumination rounds, and various artillery shells.[12]

Notable commanders of the brigade during the war include Brigadier General Karim Ebadat and Colonel Abbas Kianian. Currently, Colonel Babak Zarrinkolah commands the 55th Airborne Brigade.[13]

 

 

[1] Hussain-Ahmadi, Ali, “Amaliyat-e Bord-e Boland dar Amaliyat-e Moshtarak-e Havabord” (Long-Range Operations in Joint Airborne Operations), Mahname-ye Saf, no. 419, Esfand 1394 – Farvardin 1395, Pp. 60–62.

[2] Hussainiya, Ahmad, Inja Che Kar Mikonid (What Are You Doing Here?), Tehran: Atashbar, 1398, Pp. 38–39; Jafari Jabbali, Ali & Majid Mansuri, Taqvim-e Tarikh-e Defa Muqaddas-e Niru-ye Daryayi — Zaminehaye Boruz-e Jang (The Chronology of the Sacred Defense of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Naval Forces), vol. 1, Tehran: Daftar-e Pazhuheshhaye Nazari va Motaleat-e Rahbordi-ye Niru-ye Daryayi Artesh, 1388, p. 237.

[3] Hussainiya, Ahmad, Same source, Pp. 38–39; Sayyari, Habibollah et al., Taqvim-e Tarikh-e Defa Muqaddas-e NEDAJA – Avardgah-e Takavaran-e Daryayi (The Chronology of the Sacred Defense of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Naval Forces), vol. 2, Tehran: Daftar-e Pazhuheshhaye Nazari va Motaleat-e Rahbordi-ye Niru-ye Daryayi Artesh, 1389, Pp. 282 & 294.

[4] Hussaini, Seyed Yaqub et al., Artesh-e Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran dar Hasht Sal-e Defa Muqaddas – Nabardhaye Gharb-e Dezful (The Islamic Republic of Iran Army during the Eight Years of Sacred Defense), vol. 1, Tehran: Sazman-e Aqidati-Siasi-ye Artesh, 1372, p. 120.

[5] Ibid., Pp. 154–155.

[6] Jafari, Mojtaba, Atlas-e Nabardhaye Mandegar (Atlas of Enduring Battles), Tehran: Soreh Sabz, 35th ed., 1393, p. 74.

[7] Dorudian, Muhammad, Tajzieh va Tahlil-e Jang-e Iran va Araq – Jang, Baziyabi-ye Sobot (Analysis of the Iran–Iraq War – The War: Restoring Stability), vol. 2, Tehran: Markaz-e Motaleat va Tahqiqaat-e Jang, 3rd ed., 1384, p. 208.
 

[8] Dorudian, Muhammad, Seyri dar Jang-e Iran va Araq – Az Khunin-Shahr ta Khorramshahr (Studying the Iran–Iraq War – From Khunin-Shahr to Khorramshahr), vol. 1, Tehran: Markaz-e Motaleat va Tahqiqaat-e Jang-e Sepah-e Pasdaran, 4th ed., 1377, Pp. 113, 117, 133, 146 & 147.

[9] Jafari, Mojtaba, Ibid., Pp. 82 & 86.

[10] Hussaini, Seyed Yaqub, Nabardhaye Sal-e 1362 ta Payan-e 1364 (Battles from 1983 to the End of 1985), Tehran: Heyat-e Maaref-e Jang-e Shahid Sepahbod Ali Sayyad Shirazi, 1389, Pp. 27, 54 & 74.

[11] Jafari, Mojtaba, Ibid., Pp. 96, 104 & 110.

[12] Hussain-Ahmadi, Ali, Ibid., p. 63.

[13] Rooznama-ye Keyhan (Keyhan Newspaper), 16 Tir 1399, available at: www.kayhan.ir/fa/news/192459.