Mohammad Jahanara

Seyed Mohammad Ali Jahanara (سید محمد علی جهان آرا)
Nickname(s) Mohammad Jahanara
Born 1954
Khoramshahr, Khozestan, Iran Iran
Died 1981 (29)
Kahrizak, Tehran, Iran Iran
Allegiance Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution
Rank Major General
(Persian: سرلشکر)
Commands held Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution
Battles/wars Iran–Iraq War
Battle of Khorramshahr
Siege of Abadan

Mohammad Ali Jahanara (Persian: محمد علی جهان آرا) was an Iranian commander of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (AGIR) and one of the main commanders in liberation of Khorramshahr in the Iran-Iraq War. Mohammad and another commanders of Iran-Iraq war were killed in a plane crash near Tehran.[1][2]

History

He was born on 31 August 1954 in Khoramshahr, Khozestan. When he was 15 years old, started his political and religious activities with some of his friends in Khoramshahr Imam Sadegh masque. In 1971, Mohammad and his brother joined the secret group of "Hezbollah", political campaign group against the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in Khoramshahr. 2 years later, members of Hezbollah group was identified and arrested by SAVAK, and Jahanara was sentenced to one year in prison.[1][3]

In 1975 (after graduating from high school), he went to the Tabriz School of Business and continued his political activities. On that time combat with weapons was important and for this reason, he joined the militant "Mansoron" group. Mohammad had vastly political activities in different cities such as Tehran, Kashan, Ghom, Yazd, and Isfahan. SAVAK killed his brother, Ali Jahanara, in 1978. In spring and summer of 1978, he was responsible for dispatching a group to Syria and Palestine for participated in a special militant training. Jahanara actively participated in the 1979 Revolution in his birthplace. After the victory of the Iranian Revolution and establishment of AGIR in 1980 and was selected as commander of Khoramshahr AGIR and established the Jahad Sazandegi in Khoramshahr.[3][2] He got married with Akbarnejad in 1979.[4]

Battle of Khorramshahr

The Battle of Khorramshahr was a major engagement between Iraq and Iran in the Iran-Iraq War. The battle started from September 22 until November 10, 1980. Known for its brutality and violent conditions, the city came to be known by the Iranians as Khuninshahr, meaning "City of Blood". The Pasdaran commander, Mohammed Jahanara, was one of the last few soldiers to leave Khorramshahr when it fell to the Iraqis. He would go on to fight in the Siege of Abadan and lead Iranian forces to liberate Khorramshahr. He died before the city was liberated on May 24. A song was later written in his commemoration, saying, "Mamad, you're not here to see that our town is free."[5]

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