Opeation Zarbat-e Zulfaqar (also known as Kharazm) was one of the Iranian Army’ s first offensive operations. Launched with the codeword “ Ya Allah” on January 9, 1981, in the west of Saleh-Abad (Ilam Province), it resulted in the liberation of the Meimak Heights.

Meimak is one of the most important and strategic heights in the Poshtkuh region in southwestern Ilam Province. This strategic area, with multiple peaks, is separated from the border heights by the Lik plain. Meimak holds a unique position: from the west, southwest, and south, it overlooks the Halaleh plain, Nei-Khazar, and the flat, open lands of Iraqi territory. It provides wide and unrestricted fields of observation and fire, giving control over the key Iraqi axes of Mandali, Dushikh, Tarsaq, and Zorbatiyeh. On its southeastern side, it also dominates the Lik plain, the Sarni axis, the northern slopes, and the Talkhab, Bijar, and Bina gorges inside Iran.⁠[1]

The Meimak Heights stretch roughly 15 kilometers in length and about 8 kilometers in width, running along the entire shared border strip between Iran and Iraq. The closest point from these highlands to Iraq’ s capital is about 180 kilometers.⁠[2]

Meimak had great importance for both Iran and Iraq. In the 1975 Algiers Agreement, Iraq tied its recognition of Iran’ s sovereignty over half of the Arvand Rud to Iran’ s acceptance of Iraqi sovereignty over the Meimak Heights.⁠[3] Under the 1975 Agreement, part of Meimak was to be ceded to Iraq, but both sides agreed to postpone the cession. Border demarcation efforts began in early 1977, but Iraq suspended the process as the Islamic Revolution in Iran began to unfold, giving various excuses for the suspension. After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the Iraqi government closed the door on negotiations, left Iranian letters unanswered, and began border aggressions.⁠[4]

Meimak’ s importance was so great that the Iraqi army attacked and occupied the area on September 9, 1980, before launching its full-scale invasion of Iranian territory.⁠[5]

After capturing the region, Saddam Hussein announced in a radio address that Meimak would be renamed ‘ Seif Saad’ (Sword of Victory) and asserted that winning the war depended on its capture. He compared its seizure to the killing of Rostam, the legendary hero of Iran. After the occupation, Saddam ordered the design of an official medal called Seif Saad to be awarded as a badge of merit and victory to Iraqi military commanders.⁠[6]

Iraqi control over the Meimak Heights, thanks to excellent observation and fire positions, denied Iranian forces any freedom of movement. Iranian troops were exposed to heavy Iraqi fire for kilometers along the Sarni axis, Lik plain, as well as Bijar and Bina gorges. Several oil and gas wells in the area, along with their associated facilities, also fell under Iraqi control.⁠[7]

In January 1981, Operation Nasr was carried out by Iranian forces in Hoveyzeh but did not succeed. Given the situation, Iranians closely followed reports from the fronts, hoping for news of successful operations and messages that would lift morale. Accordingly, the 81st Armored Division of Kermanshah (Army) issued the Amin operational plan, prepared on November 30, 1980, to relevant units. Under this plan, responsibility for the western front from around the Kani-Sheikh River to north of Mehran was assigned to Brigade 1 of the division.⁠[8] Brigade 1 then prepared Operation Kharazm 6 on December 13, 1980, laying the groundwork for the liberation of Meimak. The operation was named after Major Kharazmi, commander of the 217th Tank Battalion of the 81st Division.⁠[9]

According to the plan, the 1st Armored Brigade would advance in phases, striking the enemy along the Konjan‑Cham axis, attacking the Bina gorge, capturing the Meimak Heights, and then pushing westward to the international border.⁠[10]

The units under Brigade 1 Headquarters included Combat Group 195 Mechanized Infantry, Combat Group 217 Tank, Combat Group 222 Tank, the 7th Battalion of the Joint Staff of the Army, as well as the tribal Basij volunteers of the Khezel tribe.⁠[11]

The Khezel tribe considered the Meimak Heights and their western slopes as ancestral lands and had deep ties to the region. Given this attachment, members of the Khezel tribe played key roles in reconnaissance and in carrying out the operation.⁠[12]

Command of the operation headquarters was held by Colonel Esmaeil Sohrabi, commander of Brigade 1 of the 81st Armored Division of Kermanshah.⁠[13]

Operation Zarbat-e Zulfaqar began at 6:20 AM on January 9, 1981, with the codeword “ Ya Allah”⁠[14] by units of Brigade 1 of the 81st Armored Division of Kermanshah and tribal Basij volunteers. Thanks to the rapid Iranian assault, all pre-planned objectives were achieved before noon. However, from midday onward, Iraqi aircraft and helicopters, together with heavy artillery fire, intensified their attacks. For a week, the enemy carried out repeated counterattacks to retake lost areas⁠[15] but failed. The operation finally ended on January 16, 1981, after achieving its objectives and consolidating the Iranian positions.⁠[16]

In this operation, the main and strategically sensitive sections of the Meimak Heights— such as the Kalleh‑Qandi and 602 heights on the northern axis, and the 525 and 540 heights on the southern axis— fell into Iranian hands. This can be considered the Iranian Army Ground Forces’ first successful operation, which relatively secured the international border and protected territories claimed by Iraq.⁠[17]

During Operation Kharazm, Army Aviation flew 426 operational hours with 18 helicopters, evacuating 182 wounded fighters, transporting 350 personnel to the front, and delivering five tons of ammunition and supplies.⁠[18] In this operation, about 2,000 Iraqis were killed or wounded, and 164 were captured.⁠[19] Moreover, 60 Iraqi tanks and armored personnel carriers and 50 other vehicles were destroyed, along with the downing of two Iraqi aircraft and three helicopters, and the destruction of roughly 70 percent of Iraq’ s 2nd Mountain Infantry Brigade and the 7th Tank Battalion.⁠[20] Captured equipment included 13 tanks, two armored personnel carriers, several loaders and bulldozers, five 106‑mm recoilless rifles, several anti‑aircraft guns and Malyutka missiles, communication systems, and various light and heavy weapons.⁠[21]

One notable aspect of the operation was the element of surprise: after a week on full alert, Iraqi commanders— having not anticipated an Iranian attack— had returned their units to normal status.⁠[22]