Iran has recently commemorated the 35th anniversary of failure of Tabas event every year as a symbol of the failure of US plots against the Islamic Republic.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has marked the 35th anniversary of a failed US military operation on Iranian soil that was launched in an attempt to release former US embassy staff held in Tehran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
On April 25, 1980, the United States launched a covert military operation, known as Operation Eagle Claw, in an attempt to airlift the US embassy staff held in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
However, a sandstorm hit and brought down the group of US military aircraft in the Tabas Desert, killing eight American servicemen and resulting in the abortion of the mission. Inspections showed a helicopter crashed into a C-130 Hercules transport plane as five other choppers were stranded in the storm.
The units involved in the operation were from the US Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps.
The Tabas incident occurred during the administration of former US President Jimmy Carter, and many believe it played a major role in Carter’s defeat in the 1980 presidential election in the US.
This is reminder of a failed American military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Eagle Claw, was the name of an American operation, that resulted in total defeat for the Americans 35 years ago.
Then US President, Jimmy Carter had ordered the operation for what he called freeing US hostages held in the former US embassy in Tehran. Besides a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and military officers, eight helicopters were involved in the failed operation, but ran into a sand storm in Tabas, 950 kilometers southeast of Tehran.
As a result a helicopter crashed into the C-130 Hercules, eight Americans were killed, four were wounded and the mission was aborted. Experts believe that the failure of Operation Eagle Claw was a high stake political gamble by the West that was lost.
Tabas incident paved the way for further unity and solidarity of Iran's revolutionary forces, while also proving Islamic Revolution's righteousness throughout the international community.
Throughout the course of this incident, the true ominous visage of the enemy was revealed more than ever and the divine nature of Islamic Revolution was proved to the international community.
The Great Leader of the Muslim World' Imam Khomeini' delivered a message to condemn the American crisis:
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
O the combatant nation of Iran! You heard about the American military intervention. You also heard about the excuses of Carter. I have repeatedly told that Carter will do every wrong and commit every crime, even the world he will set to fire only to reach the presidency of America. Now the evidences of that are appearing one after another. Carter's mistake is in his conjecture. He thinks that he can make the Iranian nation to go astray from the way of God and humanity. By this foolish display he presumes that the Iranian nation will retreat while the nation of Iran is ready to sacrifice everything for Islam, independence and freedom. Carter has not realized as to what nation he is in confrontation with and what school? Our nation is a nation of blood. Our school is Jihad. This man, a human friend, put a group to death in order to stay a few years in power. It is quite probable that he might have admitted a gigue of eight persons to minimize the gravity of his crime. But the very sketch of the incident reflects that there should have been tens of persons who gave their lives for the sake of his lust and personal proclivity. Besides, there are tens of them lost in the wilderness of that vast desert exposed to death. He claims that the place has transported all the passengers. This contradicts the report given to us. Carter must know that had not they attacked their spying center in Tehran, now none of them, nor one of those fifty spies would have been left alive. All would have been dispatched to hell. Carter must know that an attack on Iran is an attack to all Islamic countries. The Muslims around the world are not indifferent in this matter. Carter must know that an attack on Iran shall cause the stoppage of the flow of petroleum from all over the world to America. The world will unite itself against America. Carter should know that this foolish act that he has committed will turn his own friends into enemies. It has left so deep an effect in America. Carter should know that he has nullified his political prestige by this childish act of his. He should give up the hope of becoming president. Carter by this act has proved that he is short of thinking power. Furthermore, he is unable for administration of a big country like America. Carter must know that a nation of 53 million has grown up in a school wherein martyrdom is prosperity and a pride. It does not hesitate to sacrifice its own life for the sake of its school. Carter must know that all the up to date and modern weapons he had given to the Shah are now in the possession of our great army which will be a havoc to himself.
...
May God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.
April 25, 1980 [Ordibehesht 5, 1359 AHS/ Jamadi ath-Thani 9, 1400 AH]
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini
Sahifeh, vol. 12, Pages: 224 & 225