Haj Omran is an important military area located between Piranshahr (in Iran) and Chooman Mustafa (in Iraq). Haj Omran was the name of an Iraqi Army garrison situated 12 kilometers from the Iran-Iraq border. Iranian forces captured this place during Operation Valfajr 2. Several operations took place in this region until the end of the Iran-Iraq War.

The Haj Omran (Tamarchin) operational area is located 15 kilometers from Piranshahr County and just one kilometer from the zero-border point. It lies on the Piranshahr– Rawanduz (Iraq) transit road. The area is covered with mountainous terrain, the most important of which are the two border heights of Tamarchin and Qamtara, situated 12 kilometers southwest of Piranshahr. The ridgeline of the Qamtara Mountains forms the border between Iran and Iraq.⁠[1]

The Haj Omran Garrison has a strategically vital position. It is bordered to the north by Chenarestan and Kelashin elevations, to the south by the very high Sekran and Kado highlands, to the east by the Tamarchin Heights and the border city of Piranshahr, and to the west by the Darband Pass and the city of Chooman Mustafa in Iraq. Among the important highlands in the area are 2519 (Gardemand), 2999 (Kadoo), 3000 (Barzin), and 2435 (Gardeh-Koo). These overlook Piranshahr’ s heights, the Piranshahr– Naqadeh Road, Piranshahr Garrison, the Piranshahr– Sardasht Road, as well as Chooman Mustafa, Diana, and Rawanduz in Iraq.⁠[2]

From the beginning of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the northwest region of the country was the scene of clashes between Iranian forces and anti-revolutionary groups. At the start of the Iran-Iraq War, the Iraqi Army had set its northern limit at the Nowsud area, yet the conditions did not allow them to operate in this region. However, after some time, the war expanded to this area as well, where multiple operations led to the permanent presence of Iranian and Iraqi units in its sensitive positions, important heights, and communication axes.⁠[3]

Throughout the Iran-Iraq War, several operations were carried out in this region, including:

- Operation Valfajr 2 – July 20, 1983, with the participation of the Iranian Army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC);

- Diversionary Operation Zafar 3 – June 28, 1985, commanded by the Iranian Army;

- Operation Qader – July 15, 1985, with the participation of the Iranian Army and the IRGC;

- Defensive Operation Haj Omran – May 14, 1986, commanded by the Iranian Army;

- Operation Haj Omran – May 23, 1986, commanded by the IRGC;

- Operation Karbala 2 – September 1, 1986, commanded by the IRGC;

- Operation Karbala 7 – March 4, 1987, commanded by the Iranian Army;

- Operation Fath 10 – September 4, 1987, with the participation of the IRGC and Iraqi Kurdish opposition forces;

- Operation Nasr 9 – November 22, 1987, commanded by the Iranian Army.⁠[4]

The first military operation designed and executed to capture the Haj Omran region was Valfajr 2. It began on July 20, 1983, with the codeword “ Ya Allah”. After 25 days of continuous fighting, the operation ended on August 14, with the capture of heights 2519, 2122, 1970, 2062, the Haj Omran Garrison, and 80 other Iraqi bases, as well as the liberation of 200 square kilometers of Iraqi territory. Gaining control over the city of Chooman Mustafa was another achievement of this operation.⁠[5]

After Operation Valfajr 2, which resulted in the capture of the Haj Omran Garrison and the Kadoo, Gardemand, and Gardeh-Koo heights, several more operations took place in the area. Using anti-revolutionary forces, the Iraqi Army organized a new effort to retake the region. On May 14, 1986, the Iraqis launched a large-scale attack on the Haj Omran Heights. The Iraqi attack began in the early morning hours, following heavy preparatory fire on the highlands of Shahid Sadr, Tappeh Shohada 1, 2519, Kadoo, and Sarsul. Iranian defensive forces showed remarkable resistance. Two days after the Iraqi assault, units of the Iranian Army and the IRGC jointly carried out the Defensive Operation Haj Omran and cleared the area of Iraqi forces.⁠[6] However, Iraq’ s control over the communication roads in the Haj Omran region — due to its dominance over Height 2519 — kept the pressure on Iranian forces. To liberate the occupied areas, the IRGC launched Operation Karbala 2 on September 1, 1987. Although the operation was initially successful, due to Iraqi resistance, Height 2519 fell back into their hands. Iranian forces then withdrew but managed to capture Shahid Sadr Height on the northern axis. Operation Karbala 7 took place on March 4, 1985, to fulfill the goals of Operation Karbala 2. In this operation, the 64th Infantry Division of Urmia (Army) successfully seized Height 2519 and secured the achieved objectives within five days.⁠[7]

From the time of Operation Valfajr 2 and the capture of its important highlands by Iranian forces, the Haj Omran region remained a constant target for Iraqi attacks. Every so often, both sides sought to take control of these heights. On November 22, 1987, the 64th Infantry Division of Urmia of the Iranian Army Ground Forces launched Operation Nasr 9 with four battalions and one battalion from the 25th Commando Brigade. The operation lasted three days, during which the Shuhada Hill was cleared of the enemy troops. These heights also allowed Iranians to gain the upper hand over a vast portion of Iraqi territory.

On July 20, 1988, in the final days of the Iran-Iraq War and exactly 48 hours after Iran announced its acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 598, four Iraqi brigades stationed in the Haj Omran region and the Sekaniyan Heights attacked Iranian positions. However, after five days of intense fighting, they retreated. This operation saw units from the 64th Infantry Division of Urmia, the 795th Battalion of the 25th Commando Brigade, and two battalions from the IRGC and Gendarmerie successfully defend the Sekaniyan highlands, thereby keeping Iranian soil out of enemy hands.⁠[8]

During the numerous operations carried out in the Haj Omran region throughout the Iran-Iraq War, a number of Iranian military personnel and civilians were martyred. Among them were Lieutenant General Asadollah Mataji Teimoor and Lieutenant General Nasser Yarqoli from the Iranian Army Ground Forces, and Mahmoud Kaveh, Ali-Reza Movahed Danesh, and Mostafa Radanipoor from the IRGC commanders.⁠[9]

In 2003, the bodies of six newly recovered unidentified martyrs were buried on the slopes of the Haj Omran Heights. A memorial site called the Tamarchin Unidentified Martyrs’ Memorial was also built in honor of them. In 2008, the Foundation for the Preservation and Publication of the Values of the Sacred Defense in West Azerbaijan Province restored and developed the site. Beginning in 2011, the 164th Infantry Brigade of Piranshahr has expanded the facilities in the area to accommodate Rahian-e Noor caravans and visitors.⁠[10]