The Islamic Republic marks May 24 as the Day of Resistance every year, since the epic liberation of Khorramshahr on this day in 1982 from the year-and-a-half (577 days to be exact) occupation of this once thriving port city by Saddam of the US-supported repressive Ba’th minority regime of Baghdad.
The 39th anniversary of the epic victory of the Bayt al-Moqaddas Operation that coincided this year with the eve of the 19th of the fasting month of Ramadhan, the day the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS), was struck the fatal sword blow on his head while engaged in the morning prayer, reminds us again – to quote the Father of the Islamic Revolution – it was God Almighty Who liberated Khorramshahr.
During the weeks-long operation, some 6,000 Iranian soldiers were martyred and nearly 24,000 others injured.
Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein launched the war with the support of major powers and their allies in the region in 1980, a year after the victory of the Islamic Revolution.
The war drew to a close in August 1988, when Iran accepted UN Security Council Resolution 598 which declared Saddam as the initiator of the conflict.
During the eight-year-long war, Iraq received all-out support from over twenty countries led by the United States.
In a historic message, Imam Khomeini said that It was God the Almighty who liberated the Iranian border city despite agression of all world powers who were then backing Saddam.
All echelon of the Iranian society became united under leadership of Imam Khomeini to defend the Islamic-democratic system. Iranian nation also confront the global colonialist powers during the imposed war
The liberation of Khorramshahr also marks the defeat of Saddam and his backers.
The liberation of Khorramshahr also changed the balance of power in the imposed war in favor of the Iranian forces.
Iran accepted UN Security Council Resolution 598 which declared Saddam as the initiator of the war, drawing the conflict to a close in August 1988.
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