Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – January 19, 1987

After the prayer, we contacted Mr. Shamkhani at Moghadam camp. He informed that we have made good progress in last night's operations and we have cut off two roads in the south of the operational area that the enemy was using, and he requested that the air force be active today. Mr. Sanjaghi also informed that in the west, the army has stabilized in the heights of Shermil and has taken some other heights as well.

Mr. Rezaei came and gave full explanations about the current operations and future plans. Last night, they crossed the Jassim stream and advanced one kilometer towards Basra, and the footpaths have started.

Mr. [Mohammad Baqir] Zul Qadr, the commander of the Ramadan camp, came and told the plan of operations inside Iraq. Cold and snow have slowed down the progress of the work.

In the afternoon Mr. [Mohammed] Kautari, commander of the 27th army, Muhammad Rasulullah (pbuh) came. He reported his operation. Behind the fish channel, it was under severe pressure and there were many casualties. Najibaneh complained about the lack of coordination between the armies of Seyyed al-Shohda (a.s.) and the 25th Karbala on the night of the operation. If his content is true, unfortunately, a mistake deprived us of an important success and caused major losses. It was decided to announce last night's operation stage three of Karbala five.

Mr. [Hossein] Alayi, the commander of the IRGC's naval force, came. A missile was supposed to hit the disturbing ship. In the evening, the battalion commanders of some units of the IRGC came. I gave a speech to them and gave the Imam's message about the need to continue operations and then held private meetings and negotiations with them. This program continued from 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM.

Usually, the commander of each battalion gave a report on his performance in the 4th and 5th Karbala operations, and I asked questions about the current situation, casualties, successes, spoils, and his future plan. The 27th division of Muhammad Rasoolullah (pbuh) was damaged more than others due to being in the line behind the fish channel and carrying out two attacks that did not coordinate with its two left and right wings, that is, Seyyed al-Shohda and 25th Karbala.

Negotiations were also held with the armies of Nasr, Imam Reza (a.s.), Fajr, Al-Mahdi (a.s.) and the brigades of Imam Hassan (a.s.) and Qaim Semnan. Two people from the IRGC's intelligence and operations in the west came and told about the success of the army's operation in the west.

Mr. Amin, the person in charge of Abul Fazl's camp, came and reported that it had no effect. Mr. [Mansour] Sattari and [Abbas] Babayi came. I emphasized on strengthening the defense of the region.