Mersad operation in respond to Forough Javidan operation

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Latest Iran's operation during sacred defense was with Iranians who was part of MKO. MKO by support of Saddam, decided to launch an impressive operation and targeted to capture Tehran during 33 hours.

In a joint meeting with the Baath regime, MKO concluded that with a military operation supported by Saddam's army and especially the air force, the central government of Iran can be destroyed. This operation was called Forough Javidan.

The general command of the operation was held by Massoud and Maryam Rajavi who had 5 specific axes to capture. Their axes were Islamabad, Kermanshah, Hamedan, Qazvin, and Tehran.

MKO thaught that Iran's situation after accepting the UN Security Council resolution 598 is complicated. Massoud Rajavi believed that Iran was in chaotic condition and people would choose MKO as soon as they entered in their planned cities and informed people from their presence by IRIB radio and television channels.

In this operation, the enemy, with 25 brigades that included a total of four to five thousand people, and also using the assistance of the Baath government, on July 25, 1988 attacked western borders of Iran and temporarily captured Islamabad and Karand.

Mersad operation, in response to Forough Javidan operation launched at July 28, 1988. On the first day, the goal was to block the attack of the MKO and close the path behind them. On this day, the helicopters of the Kermanshah Air Force base of the army destroyed the vehicles in the column of army forces, perfectly and reinforcements were sent to the defenders of the embankment in the gorge. Also, the forces disembarked from helicopters between Karand and Sarpol-e Zahab and destroyed the column behind.

After MKO was loosing last city which were captured by them, 3 transport helicopters landed in Karand and took off some of the cadres of the hypocrites as well as Masoud Rajavi, the leader of the organization, and his wife were taken out of the city.

In this operation, 1,600 to 2,000 people from MKO were killed and about 1,000 forces were wounded. Among the dead and prisoners, a large number of the MKO's cadres and brigade commanders were seen.

After enduring a strategic defeat behind the "Pataq" gorge, on July 29, 1988, MKO officially announced that they had retreated from the cities of Islamabad and Karand.

Mersad operation became an honor for the Islamic Republic of Iran and a unique example of the coordination and cooperation of the armed forces, including the army, air force, IRGC, Basij, manpowers and tribes.