Nickname(s) "Ashura" (عاشورا) | ||
Country Islamic Republic of Iran Branch Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution Garrison/HQ East Azarbaijan ProvinceWest Azarbaijan ProvinceArdabil Province | ||
31st Ashura Division (Persian: لشکر 31 عاشورا) was a division of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution. It covers the provinces of East Azarbaijan, West Azarbaijan, and Ardabil
It was first officially organized as the 1st Ashura Brigade (Persian: تیپ 1 عاشورا) under command of Mohammad Ali Jaafari during Iran-Iraq war, just before Operation Muharram. Its units had participated in various clashes after the 1979 Revolution. The brigade was later expanded into 31st Ashura Division. It participated in various operations of the Iran-Iraq war. Its notable commander was Mehdi Bakeri After Bakeri's death in Operation Badr, Amin Shari'ati was appointed as its new commander.
The division was merged with the Basij of East Azerbaijan Province to form the East Azerbaijan Ashura Provincial Corps during the rearrangement of the IRGC units in 2008.