On May 17, 1986, the Iraqi Ba'athist army, along with the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, which had just begun its military cooperation with Saddam, attacked Mehran with the aim of recapturing Faw. Chanting the slogan “Mehran instead of Faw”, they stipulated that Mehran will be evacuated only if Iranian forces leave Faw. However, a few months later, Iranian fighters not only retreated from Faw, but also cleared the city of Mehran and surrounding areas of Iraqi army forces in Operation Karbala.
Backed by Iraqi army, the MKO also occupied Mehran in Operation Chelcheragh with the slogan “Today Mehran, tomorrow Tehran” On June 18, 1988. The MKO forces attacked Mehran, while they wore uniform of soldiers of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Iraqi army also supported the operation with 530 airstrikes and the use of nerve gas against Iranian forces, as well as artillery attacks.
Due to their vulnerably against possible attacks by Iranian forces, the MKO was forced to hand over the occupied positions to Iraqi forces on July 1. At the same time, the forces of the 11th Amir al-Mo'menin (AS) Division attacked the Iraqi forces and forced them to withdraw from Mehran. Thus, Mehran was withdrawn from the MKO and the Iraqi army within three or four days.
Despite being Unable to keep in occupation Mehran for ten days, the MKO attacked the motherland forty days later after Iran had accepted the U.N. resolution 598 in operation named Forough-e Javidan (meaning Eternal Light). The aim of this operation, which was supported and covered by Iraqi Army, was to capture Tehran.
However, with the implementation of Operation Mersad by Iranian forces, the MKO Army suffered a heavy defeat, many of its members killed during the operation.
The MKO was deployed in Iraq since June 1984 to conduct attacks against Iranian troops along the Iran-Iraq border. This decision sparked a lot of criticism even among the opposition forces. In fact, the MKO became the first Iranian body throughout history which has made incursions into the motherland from a neighboring country.
The MKO’s deployment to Iraq lasted a year later, and during this period the deployed forces were ready to take military action after the initial training. According to some reports, between 1986 and 1987, the MKO has conducted 104 military actions against the Iranian forces.
With The formation of “National Liberation Army” in June 1987, the MKO’s military operations against Iran expanded. According to Iranian official sources, during the four months since the formation of the National Liberation Army, 84 small operations were carried out by the terrorist group.
In the next parts, we’ll focus on the Forough-e Javidan Operation and review memories of a former member of the Mujahedeen-e Khalq, who has participated in it as a member of the National Liberation Army.
To be continued.