The 352nd Session of Memory Night-1

Adjusted by Leyla Rostami
Translated by Ruhollah Golmoradi

2024-6-6

The 352^nd session of memory night held in Hozeh Honari of Engelab-e Eslami, Sooreh Amphitheater on November 23, 2023. This part of the session is allocated to narration of champion fighter, Hajj Mohammad Talebi. In this meeting which was along with book launch of “Miandar”, Sardar (IRGC’s General) Asadollah Naseh, Doctor Musa Zare, and Hajj Ahmad Talebi narrated their memories. Davood Saleh hosted this night of memory.

***

The first narrator of memory night, General Asadollah Naseh, said at the beginning, “After Iraq's retreat from Qasr-Shirin, the first line we formed in Qasr-e Shirin was the Ruhollah Front. Hajj Talebi was also participated in the formation of that line from the first days when Iraq retreated. He was no an ordinary warrior before that too. He was present at the front and fought against the counter-revolution. We had special warriors on the front who were pahlevans (champions) as the tradition of the old pahlevans of this country. It is appropriate to mention martyr Shahbazi in Abuzar Barracks, which was located near the border like Dokuheh Barracks. In addition to most of the sports we had, in order to revive the memory of Varzesh-e Pahlevani (Pahlevani and rituals), he also made a gaud[1] for zoorkhaneh.

The narrator went on to say, “Operation Nasr-7 was a very difficult operation. The 27^th Division of Hazrat-e Rasool (PBUH) was supposed to operate on the heights of Dopazza. The plan was that the Ashura Division would cross through the gorge and we would cross over the Bulfat Ridge. It was night and the gorge did not fall. We had to cross Dopazza Ridge to Bulfat Heights in the next afternoon, on the day of the operation. We had operations in the war that we took part in them in the day. It was 6 o'clock in the afternoon and there was a discussion among friends whether we should go or not during the day. Martyr Akbar Nazari's battalion—who died a martyr in Syria—was one of the first battalions that went into action during the day without any pause or hesitation. In broad daylight, two battalions descended from the height about 2 kilometers.

Because the operation had taken place the night before, Iraq had reinforced the line and brought its commandos. The warriors attack the line and capture the line in less than half an hour. There was a very intense conflict, but since it was daylight, we could see and provide fire support from above. First we took ‌Bulfat Ridge and then the whole mountain. Within a week, the enemy did 14 anti-attack, two per a day.

At the beginning of this operation, it was the time of the bloody story of Mecca [(1987 Mecca incident)]. The commander of one of our battalions who went to Mecca died a martyr in Mecca. His deputies had picked on me that no matter what happen, we must go into action tonight. I insisted and stopped them and said no! You must stay and act as a precautionary force. Of course, later they thanked a lot that even though we were precautionary force, we carried out good operations and single combats in the heights of Bulfat and Dopazza. Feiz Ruhollah, the person in charge of operation, also died a martyr in Bulfat Ridge when the operation started.

I told the brother Hajj Talebi that you go there. He was the commander of Khyber Battalion and was in charge of our axis at that time. There was so much conflict that I had to change the troops every day. The positive point of that area was that it was a narrow area and it was full of canal. We did not need many fighters. 2 companies could easily cover up there; But the number of warriors who were martyred and wounded were as numerous as that I had to move those 2 companies. There was a lot of pressure on the guys. We changed the troops but not the officials. Mr. Talebi was in charge for that axis. He shouted so much as his voice could not be heard through the portable transceiver. Almost three days had passed since the operation. The trench was a short one. I crouched and went out and saw Mr. Abdolmaleki standing at the door of the trench with slippers and blue pajamas. His face was swollen and full of cracks [(out of quivers)]. He had run away in hospital clothes. I said, “What are you doing here with this condition?!” He said, “Nothing, I want to go give at least a glass of water to Hajj Mohammad [Talebi].”

Continuing his memories, the narrator said, “One of the most difficult moments that happened to me and Mr. Talebi was after Operation Meimak. About 13 of the guys were left among the Iraqis for a few days. The Iraqis did not see them. Everyone thought what we should do to get them out of Iraqis. We gathered a battalion of Ansar guys in the presence of General Hamedani. We discussed with the battalion commander that they go for detection and then attack the line. They went and said Iraq strengthened its forces but the battalion commander did not accept. In order to send foodstuffs, we emptied the load of the cannonball and put peas and raisins in it, but its weight had changed. We shot it, it went away and the reeds caught fire. They shouted via the portable transceiver that sir! Leave it alone, we don't eat at all.

I said to Mr. Jamal, “Mr. Jamal! Since we can't do anything from this side, you attack the Iraqi line from the back. Although several people may be martyred, open a way and come.” The guys may fall asleep due to exhaustion. He himself and two other people were able to attack the Iraqi line in the dark, cross the line, and come to this side. The difficult moment was that the families were gathered and we were supposed to explain about these guys who stayed behind.

To be continued…