The 11th Amir al-Momenin (PBUH) Division stationed in Ilam Province is among the IRGC units that was present in the Sacred Defense.

In the first days of the Imposed War, the IRGC forces of Ilam Province, which is a border province and was directly involved in the war, were organized in the form of companies and battalions and participated in various defensive and operational axes of the war⁠[1] until on 17 September 1982 at the Amir al-Momenin (PBUH) Headquarters in Banroushan region (between Salehabad and Ilam) the formation of a new brigade from the IRGC and Basij forces of the province was approved.⁠[2] Due to the devotion of the people of the province to Imam Ali (PBUH), the name of this brigade was designated Amir al-Momenin (PBUH);⁠[3] the brigades distinctive number was also designated 114 from the number of Surahs of the Quran and with reference to Hazrat Alis (PBUH) statement in the Battle of Siffin that he said: I am the Speaking Quran.⁠[4]

The call for training and organizing the forces of the 114th Amir al-Momenin (PBUH) Brigade began on 23 September 1982 and ended in late November of the same year, and from 22 November 1982 in the form of three battalions of 505 Moharram, 503 Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Motahhari it undertook the defense of Changouleh and Mehran;⁠[5] its first commander was also Akbar Daneshyar.

Valfajr 3 Operation (August 1983) in the Mehran region was the first offensive operation of the 114th Amir al-Momenin Brigade⁠[6] in which it participated with two battalions of 505 Moharram and 503 Shahid Beheshti and reserve battalions of Malek Ashtar, Artillery, Engineering and specialized units and one 105mm artillery battery.⁠[7]

The 114th Brigade in Valfajr 5 Operation (February-March 1984) also under the command of Fath Headquarters and with four infantry battalions, one artillery battalion and one 105 batteries was present⁠[8] which after repelling Iraqi counterattacks and stabilizing the region, from 3 March 1984 to 20 March 1987 undertook the defense of the Changouleh and Valfajr 5 axis with battalions 505, 504, 503 and 501.⁠[9]

Despite its presence on the Changouleh axis, this brigade in Valfajr 9 Operation (March 1986) on the heights of northern Iraq and near the city of Chwarta in that country⁠[10] also entered action with one infantry battalion and one artillery company with 4 120mm mortars, one anti-aircraft defense company with 4 23mm guns in the area of Lari heights in northern Iraq⁠[11] and after 6 days and nights of battle on the impassable heights of northern Iraq, undertook 28 days of defense of the captured positions and then returned to its main axis in Mehran.⁠[12]

On 24 December 1986, the forces of the 114th Independent Amir al-Momenin (PBUH) Brigade entered the operational region to participate in Karbala 4 Operation. In this operation the forces of this brigade were placed as reserve under the operational control of the 17th Ali ibn Abi Talib (PBUH) Division, but due to the cancellation of the operation, they returned to the Mehran and Changouleh operational region.⁠[13]

The artillery battalion of the Amir al-Momenin (PBUH) Brigade including 3 companies in the form of 5 platoons and 150 personnel, 6 120mm mortars, 4 81mm, 4 107mm mini-Katyushas and 5 106mm guns from the beginning of Karbala 5 Operation (January 1987) was also present in the region for 45 days and nights and then returned to the Changouleh-Mehran operational axis.⁠[14]

In April 1987 and on the eve of the transfer of the Amir al-Momenin (PBUH) Brigade to northern Iraq to participate in Karbala 10 Operation, this brigade was upgraded to a division⁠[15] and with 4 infantry battalions, one artillery battalion, one artillery battalion and specialized battalions⁠[16] entered the operation under Najaf Headquarters.⁠[17] The 11th Amir al-Momenin (PBUH) Division simultaneously with participation in Karbala 10 Operation, was also present with 4 infantry battalions in the defense of the Mehran operational region and Qalavizan heights.

Although the cities of Ilam Province were under heavy enemy bombardment and had the lowest population density compared to other provinces of the country, it could provide a division consisting of IRGC, Basij and conscripted Guard forces in various offensive and defensive operations.⁠[18]

During the Sacred Defense, Akbar Daneshyar and Mohammad Karami-Rad held command of the 11th Amir al-Momenin (PBUH) Division.⁠[19] At present this position is held by Colonel Ali Jafari.⁠[20]