On Monday, July 25, 1988, the National Liberation Army of Iran launched its largest offensive todate, code-named "Eternal Light." The offensive took the NLA 170 kms deep inside Iran to the gates of Kermanshah, the largest city in western Iran.
In four days of heavy fighting, the NLA confronted 200,000 of the Khomeini regime's forces, and an all-out deployment of the regime's resources and war equipment. The NLA liberated the towns of Kerend and Islamabad, destroying the enemy's bases and fortifications. After inflicting 55,000 casualties on the regime-- among them a large number of Gaurds Corps commanders -- the NLA combatants returned to their bases along the Iranian border.
The NLA's rapid thrust deep into Iranian territory and the ensuing battles shook the foundations of the regime. After three years, the mullahs still speak of its profound impact on the society as a whole, warning that the NLA's threat to their regime is still lethal, and still present.
What distinguishes the Eternal Light Operation, making it a "turning point," is not its unique military achievements alone, but more importantly, its strategic political and historic significance.
