The founder of the Islamic Republic said that God the Almighty had extended assistance in liberating the Iranian border port city of Khorramshahr from the occupation of enemy’s forces.
This comes as Iran marks the 33rd anniversary of the liberation of the strategic southwestern city of Khorramshahr from the occupation of Iraqi forces.
Iranian soldiers put an end to the 575 days of the Iraqi occupation of the city through a landmark operation codenamed Beit ol-Moqaddas.
The Iranian forces launched the Beit ol-Moqaddas Operation in April 1982 and liberated Khorramshahr on May 24 of the same year. In retaking the city, the Iranians captured some 19000 soldiers from the Iraqi army.
During the operation, 6000 Iranian forces were killed and 24,000 injured.
The liberation of Khorramshahr changed the balance of power in the imposed Iraq-Iran war in favor of the Iranian forces and cast doubt on the ability of Saddam’s war machine, which had been receiving the full economic, military and intelligence support of more than 20 countries led by the US.
The imposed war began when Iraq, under the deposed dictator Saddam Hussein, invaded Iran on 22 September 1980 and lasted for eight years.
35 years ago, former Iraqi dictator Sadaam Hussein, supported by major Western and regional states, launched a massive military invasion of Iran. It came less than two years after the Islamic Revolution.
A large number of Iranian volunteers joined the country's armed forces to defend their country against the aggression, under the leadership the late Imam Khomeini.
The imposed war is commemorated in Iran as 8 years of Sacred Defense. Each year, Iranian Armed Forces stage nationwide military parades to mark the event.
The Islamic revolution strengthened the cause of oppressed people and nations and made them learned how to defend themselves against tyrants and aggressive powers.
The founder of the Islamic Republic had repeatedly warned the international community against the crimes the Iraqi dictator was committing against the Iraqi people and the Iranian nation.
Months after the victory of revolution in Iran, foreign powers and regional dictators armed Saddam to launch an all-out war against the peaceful Iranian nation.
They wanted to damage the Iranian nation and weaken the revolution from very beginning.
However, the masses and all stratum of the Iranian society became united under the flag of Imam's leadership to defend the Islamic system and values and confront the global colonialist powers and dictatorial regimes.
Imam mobilized all domestic sources and forces to defend the borders and Islamic- human values.
Imam had given special instruction to forces and had denied any use of forces against civilians or issued orders against misbehaving with prisoners of war.
The 8-year long war imposed by the regional and global powers against Iran met with failures. But the sacrifices made by the Islamic Iranian youth will be remembered forever. The Iranian forces defended their land and values with considering all moral and humane values.
The great spiritual leader of the Islamic world had also predicted that those who were supporting Saddam should expect one day that this stupid dictator will also turn against them. Imam prediction came true years after Saddam invaded some more Arab regional countries.