‘Lovely Phantom’ unveiled
Iraqi official’s kiss on Iranian pilot’s forehead
By Ebrahim Beheshti
Staff writer
The book ‘Lovely Phantom’ was unveiled at the Iran Cultural & Press Institute on Tuesday, recounting conversations with five phantom pilots of the Iranian Air Force who defended Iran against the Ba’athist invasion during the early months of the Iraqi-imposed war (1980-1988).
The book’s writer, Sadeq Vafaei, discussed the book in a conversation with Mohammad Atighehchi, Muhammad Sadiq Qaderi, Mohammad Reza Salavati, and Ja’far Emadi.
Mahmoud Zarrabi was one of the prominent Iranian pilots who died a few months ago. A chapter of the book features interviews with some of his colleagues, depicting the bravery and contributions of this pilot.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by former Iranian Air Force pilots including Qaderi, a phantom pilot who was captured by the Iraqi Army in the early days of the war, shared memories of his 10-year captivity in Iraq, and remembered some of his martyred comrades.
In the book’s introduction, it is written: “During the Iraqi-imposed war, the Iranian Air Force, in view of its mission and quick response along with the effective use of military tools, swiftly made a response to Ba’athist Iraqi Army invasions by reaching high-value enemy targets deep within their territory. This was done with great power, strength, and speed, disrupting the enemy’s equations in the quickest possible time.”
Qaderi recounted an incident during his captivity, “One day, while I was injured, they took me to the office of a leader of the Mukhabarat, the Iraqi intelligence service, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti. They handed me a prepared text full of insults on the Islamic Republic of Iran, the army, and the air force, and asked me to read it aloud in front of the cameras.”
He continued, “I laughed and told them I have nothing to say to you, and I won’t read this text.”
“They broke my hand, but I raised my other hand and said, ‘You can break my other hand, too, but I won’t read this text.’ Then, they showed me a picture of my wife and children, saying they could take us out of the country and offer many benefits if I cooperated. However, I stood firm, saying I am an officer and value my colleagues. I am proud of them, and I won’t say anything against them.”
According to Qaderi, the Iraqi official came forward, kissed his forehead, and said, “I wished an Iraqi officer held captive in Iran would resist like you.”