Hamid Garrison of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army in Khuzestan Province was occupied by the Baathist Iraqi army in September 1980. However, after 19 months, it was liberated during Operation Beit al-Muqaddas in April-May 1982.

Covering an area of 600 hectares, Hamid Garrison is located 41 kilometers southwest of Ahvaz, on the edge of Dasht-e Jofeir and at the start of the Jofeir Road.⁠[1] It lies near the railway station and the paved Ahvaz–Khorramshahr Road. There are no villages or natural or artificial features west of the route from kilometer 40 from Ahvaz to Khorramshahr (a distance of about 80 kilometers). The route extends eastward to the banks of the Karun River. In this open desert, Talaiyeh, Koushk, and Jofeir checkpoints, as well as Hamid Garrison, are the most important and sensitive landmarks.⁠[2]

During World War II, when Soviet forces invaded Iran from the north and British from the south in 1941, Ahvaz fell to British occupation. To secure their logistics and protect the Khorramshahr railway line, the British turned the current Hamid Garrison site into a camp for their troops. This camp was the closest point from the railway to the Karun River, near the Iraqi border, and provided control over it—making it a key strategic location for Britain. It is said that the camp was built on lands belonging to Hamid village, owned by Sheikh Ismail, and therefore became known as Hamid Camp, later Hamid Garrison.

In 1963, it came under Gendarmerie control and then the 9th Division of the Army. The garrison was responsible for guarding the southern borders from Susangerd to near Khorramshahr. Expansion plans for Hamid Garrison were drawn up during Muhammad-Reza Shah’s regime. Construction of military and security buildings continued until 1980, even after the Islamic Revolution, but no permanent military unit was stationed in the garrison. The plan was to deploy an armored cavalry battalion of the 92nd Armored Division from Ahvaz to the site once it was ready.⁠[3]

After the Islamic Revolution, on September 18, 1980, amid escalating Iraqi border attacks, the 221st Armored Cavalry Battalion of the 92nd Armored Division (from Ahvaz), stationed at Hamid Garrison, took responsibility for border coverage from Hoveyzeh to kilometer 25 on the Ahvaz–Khorramshahr Road.⁠[4] The battalion’s units were deployed with one armored cavalry platoon at the Talaiyeh Checkpoint, one at the Koushk Checkpoint, and the remainder at Hamid Garrison.⁠[5]

When the Iran–Iraq War began, Iraqi forces relied on the main Ahvaz–Khorramshahr Road, the Koushk–Jofeir side road, and the Hosseinieh Kilometer 25 route to cross the open, featureless terrain from the border to Hamid Garrison. The garrison was the enemy’s main target—a clearly visible installation in the middle of an open land. Occupying that facility would allow Iraqi troops to advance north from kilometer 25, south of Ahvaz, toward the city via the main road.⁠[6] Accordingly, the Iraqi army pushed toward Hamid Garrison with two mechanized divisions along the Noshveh–Talaiyeh–Jofeir and Tanumeh–Koushk–Jofeir axes.⁠[7] The garrison also came under air attacks.

Finally, on September 29, 1980, despite the fierce defense of the 92nd Armored Division and the martyrdom of 83 Iranians, the garrison was evacuated and ultimately fell to the enemy.⁠[8] After the garrison was captured, Iranian fighter jets launched multiple airstrikes against the Iraqi forces stationed there. However, Iraq had deployed SAM missile systems at the site.

On January 6, 1981, Operation Nasr was started to liberate areas north and south of the Karkheh Kur River, Hamid Garrison, Jofeir, then Talaiyeh and Koushk.⁠[9] Despite initial gains, the destruction of several enemy assets, and the capture of 1,200 Iraqi soldiers, an enemy counterattack on January 7—combined with poor coordination and insufficient support—forced the 16th Armored Division to withdraw to its previous positions.⁠[10] The 92nd Division also, after crossing the Karun River, hit a minefield and halted.⁠[11] Therefore, the plan to liberate Hamid Garrison failed.

Finally, after successful Iranian attacks on border posts such as Kout‑Savari during the second phase of Operation Beit al‑Muqaddas on May 7, 1982, the Iraqis grew increasingly concerned that their Third Corps’ supply lines between Dasht‑e Jofeir and Shalamcheh might be severed. They also feared for the security of their 5th Mechanized and 6th Armored divisions stationed in Jofeir and Hamid Garrison. Therefore, on May 9, they withdrew from Jofeir and Hamid Garrison, destroying the garrison completely as they retreated.⁠[12]

Late in the war, on July 23, 1988, during a major Iraqi attack, Hamid Garrison was reoccupied by the enemy but was immediately retaken following a swift Iranian counterattack.

After the war, between 2000 and 2001, buildings such as command headquarters, barracks, and bathhouses were constructed at Hamid Garrison which was also used to house Rahian-e Noor pilgrims in Khuzestan. Due to its importance in the Sacred Defense, Hamid Garrison was registered as the 36th Sacred Defense national heritage site in 2010.⁠[13] Today, Hamid Garrison hosts units of the 92nd Armored Division of Khuzestan.⁠[14]