Commentary on Iran media imagery depicting the 16JUN15 ceremony in Tehran honoring the return of 270 victims of the Iran-Iraq War, including 170 combat divers buried alive by Saddam Hussein's Baath-Iraqi troops during Operation Karbala-4.
Massive turnout at Baharestan Square in downtown Tehran, paying respect to returned remains of Iranian soldiers and combat divers, the latter executed by live-burial by Baath-Iraqi troops.
The account of the divers appears to resonate with a cross-spectrum of Iranian society, given the cruelty of Baath regime during the Iran-Iraq War and the current cruelty witnessed in the region at the hands of ISIL.
This turnout also serves to further validate what observers inside and outside of Iran have described as a now prevailing, popular support for Iranian military assistance provided to Syria and Iraq. This support is now being expressed openly by Reformists (see
HERE).
To put this American terms, the "Support our Troops" movement so prevailing since 9/11 may be instructive in understanding such a sociopolitical shift, especially when compared to the American era of the latter Vietnam War and its aftermath.
Conservative elements of society carrying coffins of fallen soldiers and combat divers from the Iran-Iraq War
Liberally dressed elements of society (likely from northern Tehran) paying respects to returned remains of Iranian fallen from the Iran-Iraq War, indicative of a reported, shifting attitude toward Iran's military commitments in the region
In addition to the Basij organization, of which members are seen beside flag-draped coffins of returning war dead, the liberal House of Cinema also issued statements of support for sacrifices made during what Iran's term "The Imposed War."
Such a large, united response prompted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to characterize the event as “one of the most memorable events of the revolution.”
Conservatively dressed elements of society (likely from southern Tehran) paying respects to returned remains of Iranian fallen from the Iran-Iraq War.
Solemn-appearing IRGC lieutenant colonel serving as pallbearer
Emotional turnout for returned remains of fallen soldiers and combat divers from the Iran-Iraq War
Further evidence of emotions on display, for returned remains of fallen soldiers and combat divers from the Iran-Iraq War.
Evidence of emotional Iranian youths of about the same age as the combat divers, fallen during a past period of national emergency.
Imagery of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeni among hands touching coffins containing returned remains of fallen soldiers and combat divers from the Iran-Iraq War.
Photo of the young Iranian military combat engineers, just prior to deployment during Operation Karbala-4
Exhumed remains of young combat diver, hands bound, buried alive by Baath-Iraqi troops during the Iran-Iraq War
Recovered water-proofed imagery of founder of the Islamic Republic worn into battle by combat diver during Operation Karbala-4.
IRGC Brig. Gen. Seyed Mohammad Baqerzadeh, commander of Committee for the Search for the Missing, beside remains of combat diver executed by live-burial by Baath-Iraqi troops during the Iran-Iraq War.
Iran's political and military leadership has taken the occasion to promote the assigning of blame for the failure of Operation Karbala-4 on American support for Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War.
Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency
