Ali Sayad Shirazi

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Ali Sayad Shirazi
1944 - 1999 (55)
Ali Khamenei standing beside tomb of General Ali Sayad Shirazi
Nickname	"The Iron Man"^[1]
Place of birth	Kaboud Gonbad
Place of death	Iran Tehran
Allegiance	Military of Iran
Years of service	1964 - 1999
Rank	General Deputy chief of the joint staff
Commands held	Islamic Republic of Iran Army
Battles/wars	Iran-Iraq War Operation Undeniable Victory Operation Zafar 7 Operation Nasr-4 Operation Mersad
Awards	the Fath (Conquest) medal^[1]

Ali Sayad Shirazi (Persian: علی صياد شیرازی) was an Iranian General who became verry important during the Iran's 8-year war with Iraq, leading many of Iran's important victories during the war. He was assassinated in 1999 by the MKO and is now seen as a martyr in Iran.

1 Background
2 Iran-Iraq War
3 Assassination
4 Legacy
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Background

Shirazi was born in Kaboud Gonbad in 1944. His father being in the army motivated him to join and in 1964 he joined as a cadet. He was promoted to second lieutenant for his ability and in 1974 he was sent to the United States for drill and educating. When he returned to his homeland Iran he demonstrated against The Shah and joined the Islamic revolution. Therefore he was jailed by the shah. After the revolution he served in the Iranian army and became a great general. ^[2]

[edit] Iran-Iraq War

During the Iran-Iraq War Sayad Shirazi became one of the most important generals of Iran. Many of Irans victories in their eight-year war with Iraq where led by him. In 1981, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini appointed him commander of the Ground Forces of the Iranian Army. In 1982, he did something that made him famous, he led the Iranian Pasdaran and Basij soldiers to victory in the Iranian Operation Undeniable Victory, this was the first time Iran was able to defeat Iraq, Iran broke through Iraqs "impenetratable" defense lines and expelled them from the Dezful-Shush area, this operation is considered by many as the turning point in the war. During Iran's attempt to capture Basra with Operation Ramadan Shirazi was said: We will continue the war until Saddam Hussein is overthrown so that we can pray at Karbala and Jerusalem. In 1988, the Mojahedin-e Khalq with help of Saddam Hussein attacked West-Iran and battled Iranian forces for Kermanshah. Iran smashed them with their counter offensive: Operation Mersad, which was led by Brigadier-General Ali Sayad Shirazi.^[2] In 1989, Shirazi was awarded the highest military distinction in the Iranian armed forces, the Fath (Conquest) medal.^[1]

[edit] Assassination

On April 10, 1999, 6:45 local time Shirazi was assassinated and is now seen as a martyr in Iran, he was assassinated just outside his house when he was going to work. The People's Mujahedin of Iran claimed responsibility for the assassination of Sayyad Shirazi, they said it was revenge for destroying their then powerful army in operation mersad. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his message on Shirazi's martyrdom said:
"The faithful and brave commander of the Islamic army and devoted soldier of the religion and the holy Qur'an attained martyrdom at the hands of the criminal, bloodthirsty and disgraced munafiqeen hypocrites. This is not the first nor the last time a faithful and lover of the lofty ideas of the divine faith has been martyred by the dirty, criminal and corrupt hands of those mercenaries who have to earn their livelihood only through serving the enemies of Islam. The hot plains of Khuzestan and the high mountains of Kurdestan have witnessed the preparedness and devotion of the brave and determined man who left numerous memories of his courage and self-sacrifice during the eight-year sacred defense period."^[2]

Iranian President Khatami described him as "a selfless commander of Islam and honorable son of Iran."^[1]

[edit] Legacy

Shirazi has had several streets and buildings named after him, including the Sayed Shirazi Hotel, a 5-star hotel in Mashhad ^[3] and the Sayad Shirazi Highway in Tehran.^[4]