Memories of Iraqi Colonel Abdolaziz Ghadir:

Iranian Fighters Made Me So Helpless That I Broke a Drink Bottle on My Head

Navideshahed: We arrived to the Headquarters of the Army and they insulted me. They called me ‘Coward’ and I broke the drinking bottle on my head due to intensity of anger and suddenly it started bleeding so badly.

News ID: ۳۶۴۶۱۵

شنبه - ۰۹ آذر ۲۰۱۲ / 2012 09 September

According to Fars News Agency Epic and Resistance Service, maybe until now you have read the memories of war from the tongue of Iranian war veterans regarding their fighting. But this time you can read the memories of an Iraqi colonel who describes the conflict days relevant to Khorramshahr as follows:

• Khorramshahr observed the highest number of forces and in the regions parallel to this city also some other intensive conflicts took place. Taheri Bridge was one of the places where it had been the main place of conflicts from the beginning of the military operations. It was 4:00 o’clock of January 17, 1982 and we moved towards Taheri Bridge. After passing four days from the conflicts between the Iranian and Iraqi forces due to the liberation of Khorramshahr, we had been able to provide some forces from the units which had remained. This unit comprised a battalion plus a military group which did not have access to guns and engineering tools. This battalion had been arranged in order to break the siege. A very intense conflict took place near Taheri Bridge. Then intensity of the conflict was in a way which would be equal with the big wars. The brigades 4, 43, 35 and some battalions from the tank units had been trapped by the Iranian forces and within a short period of time all the individuals of these brigades and units were killed.

Colonel of Talat Al-Dowri Staff said: “I observed with my own eyes that how the Iranian Muslim forces performed sacrifices so bravely and they would attack our headquarters and they would open their arms for the martyrdom so cheerfully.”?

Maybe this scene of martyrdom seeking of the Iranian forces won’t be believed by anyone unless they themselves see; but we ourselves witnessed how they strongly and firmly fought against us and they had created much fears and concerns in the hearts of our soldiers. We also took part in these battles and we attempted so much in order to push back the Iranian forces from the war zone, suddenly the Iranian armored units and tanks cut off all the communication lines and we had not way to retreat.

I contacted with the Army 13 commander of staff ‘Farough’ and I told him: “The Iranians have closed the ways which had were behind us and they aim to attack us from the rear side.”?

He responded: “The general commandership has announced that they will help you soon and more forces will joint you.”?

Our situation in Taheri Bridge was really awful and horrible. Major Ahmad Hashem, was the commander of one of the military groups and he told me: “Sir, the Iranian forces are moving towards us.”?

At this moment we noticed the exact plan of Iranian for surrounding and clearing the area of enemy forces. I demanded the artillery to open a very heavy fire on the war zone. Soon after my demand, the artillery fire took place on the strip. The whole war zone was firing in burns and many dead bodies of our forces had fallen down in the Taheri Bridge area in a dispersed condition. Maher Abdol Rashid demanded the prohibition of collecting the corpses of dead bodies and their delivery and he said: “This is a demand which has been issued by the Mr. President.”? The demand was issued when in some of the cities the people had protested against Ira and they had condemned the continuity of the war. This demand had put a very bad effect on the morale of our soldiers.

We fought against the Iranians for the third time and we were able to get back some of the firm headquarters. Following this victory, Saddam Hussein granted the courage medal to some of the officials. The strong and pious war veterans of Iran aimed to enter Khorramshahr from one strip and the other strip which was Taheri Bridge had got involved in a very conflict against us. Our battalion along with another military group aimed to retreat and they moved towards the backside. Colonel Hani Yahya Ghalandar, the commander of the brigade 419 contacted me and he said: “The general commandership has banned retreating.”?

Taleh Al-Dowri in his personal memories which had rewarded to one of his friends wrote: “The plan of Saddam Hussein at the beginning of Iranian Islamic forces attacks against Khorramshahr, was the full destruction of the city along with all the Iraqi forces which existed in the city.”?

I asked from Colonel Hani Yahya Ghalandar: “All the Iraqi brigades have not been involved in the Taheri Bridge war zone, where should we go?”?
He got angry and he angrily said: “I demand you to stay there and if you do something wrong, you will be executed!”?

I had to stay there and to wait for the demand. During these hours I could see the advancement procedure of Iranian forces and the removal of our forces from the war zone by them.

The brigade 34 of the special forces attacked towards the Iranian forces and a very intense conflict took place between the forces. The commander of the brigade was also killed. At the same night, the freedom of Khorramshahr was completed and the sound of Allah O Akbar (God is great) by the Iranian forces could be heard in all around the city. Our soldiers were so worried, concerned and they were crying and weeping and they had faced with a strange dizziness. A military group of the nightly battalion started its fighting against the Iranian forces. In the tomorrow morning, none of the forces of this battalion were alive.

The soldiers who were accompanying me, they moved towards the Iranian and they were captured. I was left alone with one of the tanks and I retreated and I moved up to the Fish Lake with that. When I arrived to the Army headquarters, they insulted me. We arrived to the Headquarters of the Army and they insulted me. They called me ‘Coward’ and I broke the drinking bottle on my head due to intensity of anger and suddenly it started bleeding so badly. When I was in the hospital, they informed me that they have devoted a courage medal to me!

The End

According to Fars News Agency Epic and Resistance Service, maybe until now you have read the memories of war from the tongue of Iranian war veterans regarding their fighting. But this time you can read the memories of an Iraqi colonel who describes the conflict days relevant to Khorramshahr as follows: • Khorramshahr observed the highest number of forces and in the regions parallel to this city also some other intensive conflicts took place. Taheri Bridge was one of the places where it had been the main place of conflicts from the beginning of the military operations. It was 4:00 o’clock of January 17, 1982 and we moved towards Taheri Bridge. After passing four days from the conflicts between the Iranian and Iraqi forces due to the liberation of Khorramshahr, we had been able to provide some forces from the units which had remained. This unit comprised a battalion plus a military group which did not have access to guns and engineering tools. This battalion had been arranged in order to break the siege. A very intense conflict took place near Taheri Bridge. Then intensity of the conflict was in a way which would be equal with the big wars. The brigades 4, 43, 35 and some battalions from the tank units had been trapped by the Iranian forces and within a short period of time all the individuals of these brigades and units were killed. Colonel of Talat Al-Dowri Staff said: “I observed with my own eyes that how the Iranian Muslim forces performed sacrifices so bravely and they would attack our headquarters and they would open their arms for the martyrdom so cheerfully.”? Maybe this scene of martyrdom seeking of the Iranian forces won’t be believed by anyone unless they themselves see; but we ourselves witnessed how they strongly and firmly fought against us and they had created much fears and concerns in the hearts of our soldiers. We also took part in these battles and we attempted so much in order to push back the Iranian forces from the war zone, suddenly the Iranian armored units and tanks cut off all the communication lines and we had not way to retreat. I contacted with the Army 13 commander of staff ‘Farough’ and I told him: “The Iranians have closed the ways which had were behind us and they aim to attack us from the rear side.”? He responded: “The general commandership has announced that they will help you soon and more forces will joint you.”? Our situation in Taheri Bridge was really awful and horrible. Major Ahmad Hashem, was the commander of one of the military groups and he told me: “Sir, the Iranian forces are moving towards us.”? At this moment we noticed the exact plan of Iranian for surrounding and clearing the area of enemy forces. I demanded the artillery to open a very heavy fire on the war zone. Soon after my demand, the artillery fire took place on the strip. The whole war zone was firing in burns and many dead bodies of our forces had fallen down in the Taheri Bridge area in a dispersed condition. Maher Abdol Rashid demanded the prohibition of collecting the corpses of dead bodies and their delivery and he said: “This is a demand which has been issued by the Mr. President.”? The demand was issued when in some of the cities the people had protested against Ira and they had condemned the continuity of the war. This demand had put a very bad effect on the morale of our soldiers. We fought against the Iranians for the third time and we were able to get back some of the firm headquarters. Following this victory, Saddam Hussein granted the courage medal to some of the officials. The strong and pious war veterans of Iran aimed to enter Khorramshahr from one strip and the other strip which was Taheri Bridge had got involved in a very conflict against us. Our battalion along with another military group aimed to retreat and they moved towards the backside. Colonel Hani Yahya Ghalandar, the commander of the brigade 419 contacted me and he said: “The general commandership has banned retreating.”? Taleh Al-Dowri in his personal memories which had rewarded to one of his friends wrote: “The plan of Saddam Hussein at the beginning of Iranian Islamic forces attacks against Khorramshahr, was the full destruction of the city along with all the Iraqi forces which existed in the city.”? I asked from Colonel Hani Yahya Ghalandar: “All the Iraqi brigades have not been involved in the Taheri Bridge war zone, where should we go?”? He got angry and he angrily said: “I demand you to stay there and if you do something wrong, you will be executed!”? I had to stay there and to wait for the demand. During these hours I could see the advancement procedure of Iranian forces and the removal of our forces from the war zone by them. The brigade 34 of the special forces attacked towards the Iranian forces and a very intense conflict took place between the forces. The commander of the brigade was also killed. At the same night, the freedom of Khorramshahr was completed and the sound of Allah O Akbar (God is great) by the Iranian forces could be heard in all around the city. Our soldiers were so worried, concerned and they were crying and weeping and they had faced with a strange dizziness. A military group of the nightly battalion started its fighting against the Iranian forces. In the tomorrow morning, none of the forces of this battalion were alive. The soldiers who were accompanying me, they moved towards the Iranian and they were captured. I was left alone with one of the tanks and I retreated and I moved up to the Fish Lake with that. When I arrived to the Army headquarters, they insulted me. We arrived to the Headquarters of the Army and they insulted me. They called me ‘Coward’ and I broke the drinking bottle on my head due to intensity of anger and suddenly it started bleeding so badly. When I was in the hospital, they informed me that they have devoted a courage medal to me! The End