NOHED members operating a machine gun in snowy highlands of Kordestan during Iran–Iraq War of the 1980s.When Iraq invaded Iran, the brigade, which was the 23rd Airborne Special Forces Brigade back then and later turned into the 23rd Division, was stationed in southern and north western regions. They participated in various operations, including Breaking of the Siege of Abadan, Operation Beit ol-Moqaddas, Operation Karbala-5, and Operation Qader.