Iran marks 32nd anniversary of Khorramshahr liberation

Iran marks the 32nd 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.