5th Nasr Division
The IRGC 5th Nasr Division from Khorasan Province was present in the Sacred Defense.
With the beginning of the Imposed War, Khorasan IRGC forces in southern region under title of Ferestadegan-e Reza (PBUH), carried out the first offensive operation only 11 days after Baath Army aggression at start of Khorramshahr road, after Ahvaz Rolling Factory (Dab Hardan axis) and in a limited operation, while stopping enemy advance in parts, pushed them back. In continuation also on 3 axes of Dab Hardan, Allah-Akbar hills and Sousangerd and Shush front confronted enemy.[1]
With increase of volunteers and combatants of Khorasan Province to attend southern fronts, 2 battalions of forces of this province in January 1982 were stationed on Shush line (Karkheh river bank). These forces participated in Fath al-Mobin Operation (April 1982) and captured enemy artillery in region.
After Fath al-Mobin Operation formation of brigades in IRGC began and on 3 April 1982 18th Javad al-Aemmeh (PBUH) Brigade was formed in Khorasan Province IRGC and Site 4 in Abusolaybikhat (Khuzestan) became location of its rear.[2]
In Ramadan Operation which on 13 July 1982 east of Basra and with aim of capturing Nashveh, Tanumeh and Basra bridge was carried out,[3] Javad al-Aemmeh (PBUH) Brigade was present with 5 battalions[4] which while pushing enemy back to 25 kilometers from border, 40 square kilometers of Iraqi soil was also liberated.[5]
Javad al-Aemmeh (PBUH) Brigade also participated in Hussein ibn Ali (PBUH), Muslim ibn Aqil, Moharram and Valfajr Preliminary operations; also had defensive line at Zaid Checkpoint, Sumar (Naftshahr) and Fakkah.[6]
Simultaneously with Muslim ibn Aqil Operation on 7 October 1982, Imam Musa Kazem (PBUH) Brigade and simultaneously with Moharram Operation on 6 November 1982, Imam Sadeq (PBUH) Brigade were formed in Khorasan Province.[7] These brigades together with Javad al-Aemmeh (PBUH) Brigade became bases for establishment of 5th Nasr Division.[8]
The 5th Nasr Division on 14 February 1983 from combination of three brigades of 18th Javad al-Aemmeh (PBUH) as central core commanded by Abbas Shamlu, Imam Sadeq (PBUH) Brigade commanded by Abdolhossein Borunsi and Imam Musa Kazem (PBUH) Brigade commanded by Saeed Samenipour was formed. Organization of first IRGC division from Khorasan Province was done with tact of Hassan Baqeri (martyr) before Valfajr Preliminary Operation, but its formal formation was postponed to after operation.[9]
First presence of 5th Nasr Division in war relates to 1983 and Valfajr 3 Operation commanded by Morteza Qorbani which led to liberation of Mehran city.[10] This division in Kheibar Operation (March 1984)[11] with 12 battalions[12] and Ashura Operation (October 1984)[13] with Imam Sadeq (PBUH) Brigade[14] and Badr Operation (10 March 1985)[15] with 7 battalions was present.[16]
The 5th Nasr Division also participated in Valfajr 8 Operation (February 1986) which began with aim of capturing Faw[17] and Iranian forces dominated Khor Abdullah (only waterway of Umm Qasr port of Iraq)[18][19] and commander of artillery of this division (Mahmoud Saedi) was martyred.[20]
In Karbala 4 Operation (25 December 1986)[21] and 15 days later in Karbala 5 Operation[22] and on 15 January 1988 in Beit al-Moqaddas 2 Operation north of Sulaymaniyah Iraq,[23] the 5th Nasr Division was present with 3 battalions.[24]
In last days of war and confronting Monafeqin, Mersad Operation was carried out in Kermanshah and 5th Nasr Division also participated with 2 battalions in this operation which led to defeat and retreat of Monafeqin.[25]
During the Sacred Defense, 5th Nasr Division was present in 16 offensive operations and defense of 17 operational regions; Nasrollah, Rasoulallah, Abdollah, Valiollah, Jondollah, Yadollah and Roohollah were among most important battalions of 5th Nasr Division in Sacred Defense; most Basiji forces of Khorasan Province also during Sacred Defense were present in 5th Nasr Division and Imam Reza (PBUH) Brigade.[26]
Construction of Samen al-Aemmeh (PBUH) Garrison, on Ahvaz to Sousangerd route and start of Hamidiyeh city entrance, in 1983 by engineering of Khorasan 5th Nasr Division for stationing forces of this division began and ended in 1987. This garrison which is among national works of Sacred Defense is now at disposal of Khorasan Razavi Imam Reza (PBUH) IRGC and lodging place of Rahian-e Noor caravans of this province.[27]
First commander of 5th Nasr Division was Hassan Baqeri who remained in this position only ten days and was martyred. After him, Hamzeh Hamidnia, Morteza Qorbani, Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf and Esmaeil Qaani until end of war held this position.[28] Now Second Brigadier General Amin Rasouli is commander of this division.[29]
References
- [1]. Mousavi Emad, Seyyed Hossein, Atlas-e Lashkar 21 Imam Reza (PBUH) dar Defa-e Moqaddas, Tehran, Center for Sacred Defense Documents and Research, 2024, p. 10.
- [2]. Ravian-e Fath Razavi Association Website, Brief Introduction to Khorasan Military Units in Sacred Defense, http://ravianefatherazavi.com/component/k2item.
- [3]. Ashourioon, Ahmad-Reza, Atlas-e Lashkar 14 Imam Hussein (PBUH), Tehran, Center for Sacred Defense Documents and Research, 2023, p. 184.
- [4]. Hosseini, Seyyed Yaqoub, Ramadan Operation, Tehran, Iran Sabz, 2014, p. 85.
- [5]. Pourahmad, Ahmad, Geography of Enduring Operations of Sacred Defense, Tehran, Foundation for Preservation of Sacred Defense Works, 2nd ed., 2011, p. 121.
- [6]. Ravian-e Fath Razavi Association Website, Ibid.
- [7]. Ibid.
- [8]. Defa Press News Agency, Record of 5th Nasr Division Is Product of 6 Years Research, https://defapress.ir/fa/news/550013.
- [9]. Ravian-e Fath Razavi Association Website, Ibid.
- [10]. Shahrara News Website, Look at Establishment and Performance of 5th Nasr Division, https://shahraranews.ir/fa/news/44040.
- [11]. Mirzaei, Reza, Hamaseh-haye Namdaran-e Gomnam, Tehran, Foundation for Preservation of Sacred Defense Works, 2020, pp. 444, 469.
- [12]. Ardestani, Hossein, Kheibar Operation: New Thinking in War, Tehran, Center for Sacred Defense Documents and Research, 2021, pp. 103, 106.
- [13]. Behrouzi, Farhad, Calendar of Sacred Defense History (Mehr 1984 Events), Vol. 50, Tehran, Center for Islamic Revolution Documents, 2018, p. 1328.
- [14]. Nakhaei, Hadi, Rouzshomar-e Jang-e Iran va Iraq, Vol. 33, Tehran, Center for War Studies, pp. 454, 590.
- [15]. Pourahmad, Ahmad, Ibid., p. 209.
- [16]. Hosseini, Seyyed Yaqoub, Battles of 1983 to End of 1985, Tehran, Iran Sabz, 2011, p. 452.
- [17]. Pourjabbari, Pezhman, Atlas-e Geography-e Hemasi – Khuzestan dar Jang, Vol. 1, Tehran, Sarir, 2010, p. 101.
- [18]. Ahmadipour, Ali, Shenasnameh-ye Navtip 13 Amir al-Momenin, Bushehr, Pelak-e Eshgh, 2022, p. 22.
- [19]. Zarezadeh, Nader, Combat Organization and Intensity in Karbala 5 Operation, Negin-e Iran Quarterly, No. 47, Winter 2014, p. 154.
- [20]. Defa Press News Agency, Martyr Commander Mahmoud Saedi in Pictures, https://defapress.ir/fa/news/518459.
- [21]. Center for Sacred Defense Documents and Research Website, Karbala 4 Operation, https://defamoghaddas.ir/news/1991.
- [22]. Ardestani, Hossein, Decisiveness of Karbala 5 Operation, Negin-e Iran Quarterly, No. 49, Summer 2014, p. 11.
- [23]. Ardestani, Hossein and Yadollah Izadi, Rouzshomar-e Jang-e Iran va Iraq, Vol. 1, Tehran, Center for Sacred Defense Documents and Research, pp. 25-27.
- [24]. Ibid., p. 82.
- [25]. Center for Sacred Defense Documents and Research Website, Mersad Operation, https://defamoghaddas.ir/news/2004.
- [26]. Daneshnameh Jihad va Shahadat, Nasr Division, https://wikishahid.ir.
- [27]. IQNA News Agency, Samen al-Aemmeh (PBUH) Garrison of 5th Nasr Division Registered as National Work, https://iqna.ir/fa/news/1731588.
- [28]. Defa Press News Agency, Brief Look at Khorasan Combat Units in Sacred Defense, https://defapress.ir/fa/news/256999.
- [29]. Ibid., Promotion of Commander of 5th Nasr Operational Division, 9 August 2023, https://defapress.ir/fa/news/608923.
