Oshnavieh is one of the counties of West Azerbaijan Province that, in the early years following the victory of the Islamic Revolution, experienced serious unrest due to the activities of separatist groups. From that period until October 1984, military forces repeatedly conducted clearing operations to purge the region of anti-revolutionary elements. During the Iran–Iraq War, the city was bombed on several occasions by Iraqi aircraft. Operation Qader in 1985 and the chemical bombardment of 1988 are among the most significant events in Oshnavieh’s recent history.

Oshnavieh County is located in the western part of West Azerbaijan Province. It borders Piranshahr to the south, Naqadeh to the east, and the Iran–Iraq border to the west. Nearly all of the city’s inhabitants are Kurdish and Sunni Muslims. The Kelashin Stele, written in Urartian and Assyrian and dating back to the 8‌^th century BCE, located in the Chalashi Valley northwest of Oshnavieh, provides undeniable evidence of the historical antiquity of this region. In the inscriptions attributed to Cyrus the Great, the province of Eshnunak—identified with present-day Oshnavieh—is mentioned as a tributary region.⁠[1]

From the early days after the Islamic Revolution, separatist groups, seeking autonomy, took control of the city, and Oshnavieh quickly fell into crisis. In addition to anti-revolutionary activity, Iraqi forces also carried out clear border violations in the frontier areas of Oshnavieh. Following Imam Khomeini’s decree on August 18, 1979, local residents expelled the insurgents from the city on September 3 of the same year. Two days later, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Army units entered Oshnavieh and partially restored security, though only for a short period of time. In November 1979, armed attackers launched assaults on gendarmerie bases from the surrounding highlands.

In late March 1980, the second clearing operation in Oshnavieh began, and on May 18, Iranian forces finally took control of the area. By seizing the heights surrounding the city, they encircled Oshnavieh and issued a statement calling on armed elements to surrender their weapons to the nearest military posts.

On the 17th of June 1980, after three months of fighting between the 64th Urmia Division and anti-revolutionary forces, key and sensitive points in Oshnavieh came under government control. On July 9 of the same year, gendarmerie units, backed by the 64th Division, managed to enter the city.⁠[2]

On September 10, 1981, the third clearing operation was carried out in Oshnavieh. Despite repeated operations, the city had once again fallen under the control of opposition parties and armed groups. This time, government forces advanced from Salmas towards Urmia and Oshnavieh. As a result of this operation—carried out with the participation of the IRGC, the Iranian Army, and Kurdish Muslim Peshmerga units—not only Oshnavieh but also the Aq-Bolagh Heights, the areas of Somay-e Baradost, Sarv, Targur, Margur, Darreh-ye Shahidan, and Kelashin were liberated.⁠[3]

Ali Sayyad Shirazi, serving as commander of the Northwestern Operations, led this campaign and, together with his forces, succeeded in liberating the cities of Oshnavieh and Bukan after 44 days of fighting in the northwest. A suitable operational structure was then established to continue clearing efforts. In coordination with Mohsen Rezaei, the commander of the IRGC, the northwestern region was designated as the Hamzeh Seyyed al-Shuhada Headquarters.⁠[4]

Following the liberation of Oshnavieh, gendarmerie forces, on September 13, 1981, retake the Naqadeh–Oshnavieh Road from anti-revolutionary control and established bases along the route to secure traffic.

After the city and its roads came under government control, anti-revolutionary elements retreated to the border highlands and set up several bases inside Iraqi territory, particularly in the Kharkuk Valley. From there, they dispatched their forces to disrupt security in villages, communication routes, and even the cities of Oshnavieh and Urmia.

To enhance security in Oshnavieh, Urmia, and surrounding border villages, the Hamzeh Seyyed al-Shuhada Headquarters assigned the Nasr Headquarters, based in Oshnavieh, the mission of suppressing anti-revolutionary groups, seizing the border heights of Oshnavieh, and establishing bases in the villages of Kani-Rash, Gelazarde, Lolan, Kani-Sorkh, and Aq-Bolagh.

Nasr Headquarters launched this operation on February 14, 1985, while the region’s highlands were covered in snow. When encountering government forces, anti-revolutionary elements fled into Iraqi territory, thereby escaping a decisive strike. Nevertheless, operational units established several bases in the highlands and villages, restored security, and achieved the primary objectives of the operation.⁠[5]

Between September 1981 and October 1984, the forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran conducted eleven operations in the Oshnavieh area, resulting in the clearance of approximately 23 zones of anti-revolutionary presence. Some areas were cleared more than once, including Mirabad, which was cleared three times, and Aq-Bolagh and Gorji, each cleared twice.⁠[6]

Before Operation Valfajr 2 (July 20 ,1985), the general area of Sidekan in Iraq—within the greater Oshnavieh region—was not well known to Iranian forces. However, following this operation and the concurrent presence of anti-revolutionary elements, Iran recognized the strategic importance of the area and deployed intelligence units there. Through reconnaissance, these forces obtained detailed information on the entire Sidekan region.

In July 1985, the Army was assigned to launch operations in the western part of Oshnavieh. Its first independent operation, known as Operation Qader, was planned in Oshnavieh, Erbil, and Sidekan under the command of Ali Sayyad Shirazi (then commander of the Army Ground Forces), in cooperation with IRGC units. The operation began on July 14, 1985, with objectives including the capture of key highlands, disruption of anti-revolutionary communication and supply lines, destruction of Iraqi forces, seizure of parts of Iraqi territory, and advancing towards major Iraqi routes. Conducted over two months in three phases—Qader 1, Qader 2, and Qader 3—the operation achieved partial objectives in each phase. Iranian forces breached Iraqi defensive lines and advanced from west of Oshnavieh towards the Kelashin Heights in Iraq. However, Iraqi counterattacks brought the operation to a close on September 9, 1985, limiting its results to the destruction of enemy forces and equipment.⁠[7]

During the Iran–Iraq War, Iraqi aircraft attacked Oshnavieh nine times, resulting in numerous civilian casualties.⁠[8]

In addition, the chemical bombardment of the city on August 2, 1988, was a particularly deadly incident that shocked the world, as it happened after the ceasefire. At 2:45 AM on Tuesday, August 2, 1988, while people were asleep, Iraqi aircraft carried out chemical attacks on several residential areas, including Kachal-Abad, Barde-Zard, and Mam-Tamar, located in the western and southwestern parts of the city. Thousands were injured, and a number of civilians were martyred. Even today, many residents continue to suffer from the long-term effects of this attack.⁠[9]

In 2012, Ali Kazemi, the provincial representative for mine-clearing operations in West Azerbaijan, announced that all areas of Oshnavieh—except for two bases in the border highlands—had been cleared of landmines.⁠[10]

In July 2017, Mohsen Teymouri, director general of the Foundation for the Preservation and Publication of Sacred Defense Values in West Azerbaijan, announced plans to produce a documentary film on the liberation of Oshnavieh in 1981. He explained that the film would depict the situation in Oshnavieh and its operational environment, highlight the consequences of continued anti-revolutionary presence and occupation, and portray the repeated efforts of the Islamic Republic of Iran to secure and stabilize the region.⁠[11]