Operation Ashura 1 was carried out in three phases—on July 28, 30, and August 14, 1985—by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with the aim of confronting the anti‑revolutionary elements in the Takab and Shahin‑Dezh regions of West Azerbaijan.

Takab and Shahin-Dezh are southeastern districts of West Azerbaijan, home to Azeri- and Kurdish-speaking populations.⁠[1] During the Iran-Iraq War, armed anti-revolutionary groups—including Komala, Democratic Party of Kurdistan, Munafiqeen, Fedayeen Guerrilla, and other groups — acted as a complement to Iraq’s military aggression. In addition to sabotage, they carried out espionage for Iraq and inflicted significant damage on government facilities and residential areas in Kurdistan and West Azerbaijan, creating serious challenges for both civilians and the security forces stationed there.⁠[2]

In the northwestern areas around Takab, particularly in the summer pastures between Takab and Shahin‑Dezh and the southern parts of East Azerbaijan, armed anti‑revolutionary groups would seize money and livestock from local villagers and use the region’s rugged mountains to launch attacks on military and security forces as well as civilians.⁠[3]

As their presence and violent activities increased—especially in the villages between Takab and Shahin‑Dezh—the local population urged the Takab IRGC to clear the area. Based on this request, a decision was made to launch a full‑scale operation against these groups. Operation Ashura 1, conducted under the Hamzeh Seyyed al‑Shuhada Headquarters with the code-name Ya Zahra (sa), began on July 28, 1985, and lasted fifteen days.⁠[4] It unfolded in three phases with the aim of:

-Pursuing the militants behind the high ground, engaging them directly, inflicting heavy losses, and forcing them to flee;

-Deploying the Jondollah battalions from Shahin‑Dezh and Bukan, expanding the scope of the operation, and eliminating the groups entirely;

-Chasing down the remaining fighters and making the less‑injured and surviving members to surrender.⁠[5]

After coordination between the IRGC units in Takab, Shahin‑Dezh, and Kamyaran, the Jondollah Battalion from Shahin‑Dezh and the Nabi‑Akram (pbuh) Battalion from Kamyaran joined the Khatam Battalion of Takab. By securing the surrounding heights, they first encircled the militants and then launched the main attack on July 30, 1985.⁠[6]

Initially, reconnaissance teams were sent deep into the area and engaged the militants’ main column. Despite having the advantage in terrain and numbers, the anti-revolutionary militia suffered heavy losses, and by 9 PM, the second phase of the operation had ended.⁠[7] That day, the Democratic Party forces suffered heavy casualties; one fighter was captured, and many—including several senior commanders—were killed. In total, 51 militants were killed, with 25 bodies left on the battlefield. Also, three IRGC personnel were martyred.⁠[8]

In the third phase, on August 14, 1985, IRGC units from Takab and Shahin‑Dezh, along with Kurdish Muslim Peshmerga, managed to clear all the high ground in the region, including the Aq‑Darreh and Abdolrazzaq heights. More than 50 militants were killed in this phase as well, with 31 bodies left behind.⁠[9]

A large amount of equipment—including vehicles, heavy and light weapons such as mortars, bazookas, machine guns, and anti‑vehicle mines—was captured by the IRGC. By the end of the operation, 40 anti-revolutionary fighters (Komala and the Democratic Party) surrendered.⁠[10]

As a result of Operation Ashura 1, the Democratic Party’s organizational structure in the region collapsed⁠[11] and was almost completely destroyed, as only 13 of its 220 fighters remained.⁠[12]