Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 27

On March 29, 1981, Banisadr once again tested his military plan through a military operation, but this time too, he achieved no success. The operation area was located near the village of “Kooheh.” That day, the concentration of water between our embankments and those of the Iranians had created a barrier separating the two sides’ forces. Engineering units were measuring the volume of water in the prohibited zone ...

Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 26

Our voices gradually took on a verbal confrontational tone, but Captain "Sabah" immediately intervened and put an end to this commotion. The captain pulled me out of the trench and said: "It's better for you to leave the unit for a mission and distance yourself from them. They worship Saddam and his party, and you cannot remain silent either. I don't think they will let you off so easily."

Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 25

The unit commander assigned me a mission to go to the 103rd Artillery Battalion to bring back several empty wooden crates to the Susangerd region, for building special shelters for the doctors. I was very happy to receive this mission, because I wanted to see up close the situation of the battle of Susangerd, which had taken place on January 5, 1981. I set off for the destination with an Iraqi truck, along with the driver and another soldier.

Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 24

After spending a week of leave with my family, in early March 1981, I returned to the medical unit located in the village of Joffeir. This village, following the deployment of the support and adjutant units of the 9th and 5th divisions, had turned into a major and extensive military area and a gathering point for Iraqi forces and their vehicles. The village and the roads leading to it, which also hosted ...

Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 23

The calm that prevailed on the front often allowed me to spend most of my time studying beside my trench. It never crossed my mind that a bullet might pass right by my ear. One day, as usual, I was absorbed in reading when suddenly a bullet whizzed just a few centimeters from my nose. Startled, I jumped to my feet. I saw that one of the soldiers was holding a starling and was very pleased with his catch.

Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 22

It seemed that Major Hasan, the staff officer commanding the 1st Regiment, had stolen the villagers’ sheep after the poor residents fled their devastated villages. The next day, I asked that soldier to excuse me from eating that food. So he wouldn’t become suspicious, I said, “This dish is a special gift for the brigade commander, and if I eat it without his knowledge, it might cause trouble for you.”

Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 21

On the evening of January 15, 1981, I arrived in Joffeir and, as usual, was greeted with the mission orders that had been prepared for me. The next day, I packed my things and headed to the “P” Brigade headquarters. I decided to arrive there at noon prayer time, when the shelling of Iranian forces usually stopped. At the appointed hour, I entered the brigade camp.

Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 20

At 10 a.m. on January 6, 1981, having finished treating the wounded, I was sitting on a chair, waiting and watching. Suddenly, I saw a column of captured Iranian tanks being driven forward by the Baathists. They were ecstatic with joy, but I was deeply moved and angry to see that the Iranians had failed to achieve success in their assault. I asked myself: where is that army and nation that overthrew the Shah?

Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 19

In such difficult circumstances, Dr. Ahmad Mufti, who was more frightened than anyone else, abandoned us while we were treating the wounded. Taking advantage of the brief pause during which the evacuation of the injured had stopped, I set out together with Dr. Sabah Rabi'ei to search for him. Eventually, we found him in a shelter adjacent to the doctors' quarters. He was crouched in a corner of the trench, anxiously smoking a cigarette.

Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 18

This stage of the war was dangerous and fateful for Iran's Islamic Revolution. This was because the country was not militarily, politically, or economically prepared to enter the battlefield; moreover, the military blow that Iraq suddenly inflicted on Iran was relatively severe. Despite the fact that Iran lost a number of its cities and villages, and vast areas of its territory were occupied by Iraqi forces, the Iranian defenders managed to prevent the fall of important cities such as Ahvaz, ...