During the Iran-Iraq War, the 5th Tactical Air Base of Omidiyeh in Khuzestan played a key role in providing air support to units engaged along the southern front.

Construction of the 5th Tactical Air Base had begun before the Islamic Revolution. It was originally planned to become operational in 1980 to accommodate F-16 fighter jets. According to the contract between Iran and the United States, delivery of 160 F-16 aircraft was scheduled to begin in mid-1980.⁠[1] However, as the Islamic Revolution gained momentum, the contract was canceled by the Bakhtiar government in early 1979.⁠[2]

When Iraq invaded Iran on September 22, 1980, the 5‌^th Air Base was among the airfields attacked by enemy aircraft.⁠[3] Although the base was still incomplete, it gradually became operational out of necessity. Air transport activities began first, and in 1981, it started limited operational flights with a group of F-5 fighter jets.⁠[4]

The base provided air support during the series of operations that led to the liberation of Khuzestan. During Operation Thamen al-Aemmah (as) (Breaking the Siege of Abadan) in September 1981, Colonel Javad Fakoori, then commander of the Iranian Air Force, issued air‑support orders directly from the Omidiyeh Air Base.⁠[5] For this operation, C-130 transport aircraft carried out 54 sorties to and from Omidiyeh to move troops and ammunition.⁠[6]

In Operation Beit al-Muqaddas in 1982, the Iranian Army Air Force transport aircraft used the base to move personnel, ammunition, and wounded soldiers.⁠[7] Bombing missions against enemy positions were also flown out of Omidiyeh. For example, on May 7, 1982, four F-5s attacked Iraqi troops in the Shalamcheh area.⁠[8]

Until 1984, all operations were carried out jointly by the Army Ground Forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Afterward, the two military organizations began operating independently,⁠[9] with the Army Air Force still providing air support to both.⁠[10] Therefore, the Raad Headquarters was established at the 5th Tactical Air Base on September 14, 1984.⁠[11]

In Operation Valfajr 8, the Raad Headquarters at Omidiyeh, under the command of Colonel Abbas Babaei (Deputy Operations Commander of the Iranian Army Air Force), provided air support for the operation.⁠[12] Twelve F-5s from Dezful, eight F-5s from Tabriz, two RF-5 reconnaissance aircraft from Tehran, in addition to three Bell 214 helicopters and one light Bonanza aircraft from Shiraz, were all sent to Omidiyeh to support the Iranian forces.⁠[13]

From February 13, 1986, onward, the 5th Tactical Air Base served as the launch point for bombing sorties in support of Operation Valfajr 8. On that day, eight F-5s struck enemy positions. On February 15, six more F-5s carried out bombing runs. In the following days, the attacks intensified, and on February 16 and 17, fifteen F‑5s targeted Iraqi positions.⁠[14]

In Operation Valfajr 8, which led to the capture of the Al-Faw Peninsula, between 45 and 50 enemy aircraft⁠[15] were shot down under the guidance of Raad Headquarters.⁠[16]

The Omidiyeh Base was also active during Operation Karbala 4. Three F‑14 Tomcats stationed there provided air‑defense coverage for the area, restricting the enemy to only fourteen sorties on the first day of the operation.⁠[17]

In 1987, Operation Karbala 5 was launched in Shalamcheh. Once again, Raad Headquarters at the 5th Base provided air support.⁠[18] In addition to F-5s, F-4 Phantom fighter jets were also deployed to Omidiyeh.⁠[19] Along with C‑130s, wide‑body Boeing 747s flew out of the base carrying troops, ammunition, and wounded personnel.⁠[20] For the first time, the domestically produced 3,200‑pound heavy bomb was used in this operation, generating a massive shockwave and causing extensive destruction.⁠[21] A total of 56 sorties were flown from Omidiyeh Base in Operation Karbala 5.⁠[22]

In early 1987, the 5th Base experienced its worst incident when an Air Force Falcon jet was mistakenly struck by Skyguard anti‑aircraft guns as it was landing. The aircraft crashed, and all aboard were martyred.⁠[23]

In early 1989, after Iraq’ s push to retake Al‑Faw, Omidiyeh‑based F‑5s flew bombing runs in support of Iranian forces.⁠[24]

In June 1989, with the start of new Iraqi attacks in the Khuzestan region, the Raad Headquarters was reactivated at Omidiyeh Base.⁠[25] F-5 aircraft operating from the base engaged the enemy in areas parallel to the Khorramshahr– Ahvaz Road.⁠[26]

Another important activity carried out by the 5th Base during the Iran-Iraq War was reconnaissance missions using RF-4 aircraft. These flights photographed enemy positions and areas inside Iraqi territory. In the last such mission, on July 13, 1988, an RF-4 took off from Omidiyeh. Despite Iraqi air defenses, it successfully photographed southern Khuzestan and eastern Basra, providing critical information on how far the enemy had advanced into Iranian territory.⁠[27]

From 1990 onward, Chinese-made F-7 fighter jets entered service with the Iranian Air Force and were equipped at Omidiyeh Base with rockets and training bombs compatible with Western aircraft systems.⁠[28]

Among the most prominent commanders of the 5th Tactical Air Base during the Iran-Iraq War were Colonel Muhammad Alipoor and Lieutenant Colonel Mostafa Ardestani.⁠[29]

After the air accident and martyrdom of Lieutenant General Pilot Mostafa Ardestani in 1995,⁠[30] the Omidiyeh Base was officially named after him.⁠[31]