Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – February 13, 1986

I woke up at one o'clock in the morning with Mr. [Ali] Shamkhani's phone ringing. He informed that the IRGC forces have taken the Al-Amiya Wharf. But in the morning it turned out that it was a mistake and they didn't take it. I didn't sleep for a long time, so I was usually tired and bored today. Since last night, our forces have started an attack on the Iraqis and it will continue until tonight, and four battalions of the President's Special Guard have been surrounded, but they are resisting.

Yesterday and today, the enemy has widely used chemical weapons and about three thousand people have been injured, 80% of which is superficial. Red status was declared several times in Ahvaz. An enemy plane passed over our building, which some people think has shown our location. I was supposed to go to Tehran today, but the commanders of the IRGC considered it necessary for me to be here because of the intense clashes. Your departure has been cancelled.

The commander of the naval force came and gave a report on the failure of last night in capturing the Al-Bakr and Al-Aamiyeh wharves and told the future plan. Hag Kotsar site was down since yesterday. Today it started temporarily and then shut down again. Today we hit three enemy planes and lost one plane.

In the evening, to relieve fatigue, I went to the streets of Ahvaz anonymously and in Basij clothes. We visited for an hour and bought liver and ate it. The commander of the ground forces came with his staff and the mission of the operation to recover the city's oil was discussed. It was decided not to take action.