Mahabad is one of Kurdish counties south of West Azarbaijan Province bordering Iraq which after victory of the Islamic Revolution was both involved with internal counter-revolution and with the start of the Imposed War, was repeatedly targeted by enemy air bombardment.

Mahabad is one of Kurdish counties south of West Azarbaijan Province and from north is limited to Miandoab county, from south to Sardasht, from west to Piranshahr and Naqadeh and from east to Bukan. Religion of Mahabad people is Islam and their sect is Sunni Shafei and they speak Kurdish. Shiites who constitute 2 percent of Mahabad population are Turkish-speaking. In the past a minority of Armenians and Jews also resided in Mahabad.⁠[1] Mahabad has a population of about 260 thousand⁠[2] and 2592 square kilometers area and is located 120 km southeast of Orumiyeh. Name of this city was first Savojbolagh which in 1935 was changed to Mahabad.⁠[3] Mahabad city is the fourth most populous city of West Azarbaijan and fifth largest Kurdish city of Iran.⁠[4]

Mahabad in past decades has been scene of numerous political riots. Establishment of Mahabad Republic which was a Soviet puppet, by Qazi Mohammad on 22 January 1946 turned this city into one of most famous Kurdish cities of Iran.⁠[5]

Following victory of the Islamic Revolution, separatist groups, especially Democrat Party and Komala and later members of Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization and Fadaiyan-e Khalq guerrillas and other counter-revolutionary groups, made Mahabad their main base and crisis in Kurdish regions began with occupation of Mahabad Army Brigade garrison,⁠[6] on 20 February 1979 by Democrat Party individuals⁠[7] and light and heavy weapons including a 105mm artillery battery, a number of 23mm anti-aircraft guns and tens of 60, 81 and 120mm mortars, machine guns, rocket launchers, RPG-7 and individual weapons of an Army brigade were plundered.⁠[8]

The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan in March 1979 in a large meeting resumed its open activities after 32 years and stationed its office in a place known as Mahabad Youth House. In addition, Komala Party also established its office in this city and engaged in activity. In 1979, 25 political parties were active in Mahabad. Left groups (Marxist-Communist) which did not accept the Constitution of Islamic Republic, after long negotiations with interim government decided to draft a new constitution for themselves. Since most negotiations and coordinations for writing this so-called constitution were done in Mahabad, it became famous as Mahabad Covenant. On 3 September 1979 when these negotiations were to be finalized with presence of various counter-revolutionary groups, Army and IRGC forces attacked Mahabad from two axes.⁠[9] On this day rebels were suppressed and Army, IRGC and Gendarmerie by stationing in Mahabad took control of city. In such situation at request of separatist groups, Goodwill Delegation by interim government for negotiation and peaceful solution of crisis in Kurdish regions, on 1 November 1979 left for Mahabad and held several rounds of negotiation with group leaders and local influentials which due to obstruction of Ezzeddin Hosseini from counter-revolution leaders and Fadaiyan-e Khalq (Minority) and Komala groups did not reach conclusion.⁠[10]

In 1980 competition of counter-revolutionary groups in Mahabad with each other increased and they clashed; in Fadaiyan-e Khalq ceremony on 12 July 1980 in Qazi Mohammad Square of this city, 2 bombs exploded which left 6 killed and 12 wounded. Kurdistan Democratic Party also fueled violent actions and in September 1980 anti-security actions in Kurdistan peaked. Hostage-taking of 500 female, male and child passengers on 26 August 1980 in Mahabad and mortar shelling by Democrat Party members at people houses on 4 September 1980 and killing 8 persons and wounding 31 others, arbitrary imprisonment of 20 people opposing this party and theft of 80 million Tomans from Mahabad branch of Bank Melli on 13 September 1980 were among these actions and for this reason Mahabad people asked government to restore security to city.

Following these incidents, IRGC commanders, Army, Gendarmerie and provincial officials decided once again to clear Mahabad and restore security to city. Early September 1980 a column consisting of Army, IRGC and Gendarmerie forces with 110 vehicles, 3 tanks and with support of 4 Havanirouz helicopters moved from Orumiyeh toward Mahabad. While 3 thousand counter-revolutionary groups were armed in Mahabad and only a small number of guards were present in Mahabad Youth Palace building and a number of Army forces were also besieged in this city garrison. Following clash and defeat of counter-revolution, IRGC, Army and Gendarmerie forces on 17 September 1980 entered Mahabad and cleared the city.

Counter-revolution actions to insecure Kurdish regions including Mahabad and engaging Army, IRGC and Gendarmerie forces in these regions were carried out while Iraqi Army was preparing for nationwide attack on Iranian soil.⁠[11]

The IRGC in 1982 formed Special Shohada Brigade for operations in this mountainous region, commanded by Naser Kazemi (martyr) and then Mohammad-Ali Ganjizadeh and finally Mahmoud Kaveh (martyr) which was stationed 25 km north of Mahabad and carried out numerous operations to liberate communication roads and ensure border security. This brigade after improvement of security situation of Kurdish regions, from Badr Operation (1984) until end of Imposed War entered action in war fronts against Baathi enemy. After martyrdom of Mahmoud Kaveh in Karbala 2 Operation (1986), Ghodratollah Mansouri became his successor and held its command until end of war.

110th Shahid Boroujerdi Brigade also in 1983 was formed by IRGC and stationed 15 km east of Mahabad beside road to Miandoab. This brigade also carried out numerous operations to liberate roads from counter-revolution and played role in border supply and control. This brigade from Valfajr 9 Operation (1986) also participated in battle against aggressor Iraqi Army.⁠[12]

Brigade 3 of 64th Orumiyeh Division (Army) also stationed in Mahabad⁠[13] participated in numerous missions to establish security and clear Kurdish regions. This brigade was also dispatched to war fronts and confronted enemy army.

Mahabad nomads also along with other strata of Iranian people were present in Sacred Defense; Mangour, Gourg and Dehbokr tribes are among nomads of this region.⁠[14]

Mahabad in the Imposed War was targeted 13 times by enemy army air bombardment and offered 80 martyrs and 336 wounded to Islamic Revolution.⁠[15] First bombardment of this city was carried out on 24 February 1984 and second on 12 February 1987 and 66 persons, including 30 children and 28 women, were martyred.⁠[16]

In Sacred Defense in Mahabad, 768 persons were martyred, 700 were wounded and 268 became freed POWs.⁠[17] Khaled Heidari is among these martyrs; he is the first martyred pilot of Army Air Force in Sacred Defense who was martyred on first day of war and his body remained in region. Finally his body in 2012 was discovered by search group and buried in Mahabad.⁠[18]

Shahid Kaveh Memorial in 2024 was built at Shahid Mahmoud Kaveh Garrison in Mahabad and is the Rahian-e Noor center of southern West Azarbaijan region.⁠[19] Also Darlak Martyrs Memorial in Darlak region of Mahabad has been built.⁠[20]