Iran strikes across border into Iraqi Kurdistan
JPOST--A border dispute between Iran and the Kurdish region of Iraq underwent a significant escalation this week, as Iranian Revolutionary Guards crossed the border to engage with guerrillas of the PJAK, Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan.
The incursions began on Saturday night. Fighting continued throughout most of Sunday.
By late Sunday afternoon, a tense quiet had returned to the border area.
The incursions began on Saturday night. Fighting continued throughout most of Sunday.
By late Sunday afternoon, a tense quiet had returned to the border area.
The Iranians also claimed to have captured a wounded PJAK member. A Colonel of the Revolutionary Guards, Delavar Ranjbarzadeh, told IRNA that PJAK had suffered a ‘heavy and historic defeat.’ The Kurdish rebels dismiss this version of events. PJAK spokesman Sherzad Kamankar said 53 Iranians had been killed in the clashes, along with two PJAK members.
Kamankar said the Iranian attack had been coordinated with local Islamist fighters. He said PJAK had succeeded in forcing the Iranians to retreat back across the borderline.
Kurdish sources in the area confirmed Iranian bombardments took place at a number of other points along the borderline over the weekend. The areas of Sehit Harun and Dola Koke, inside the Kurdish-ruled part of Iraq, also came under fire.
Both Iranian and Kurdish sources noted a buildup of Iranian forces, possibly indicating further escalation ahead. IRNA reported the presence of 5,000 Iranian troops along the border.
PJAK sources noted Iranian forces were equipped with armor, missile-launching equipment and helicopter gunships.
The Iranian incursion into the Kurdish-ruled area of northern Iraq is the latest stage in a process of escalation that has been under way over the last month. On July 3, Massoud Barzani, president of Iraqi Kurdistan, warned the Iranians over ongoing cross-border operations by their forces.
Iran responded a week ago by accusing Barzani’s government of allocating 300,000 hectares of land to the PJAK without the knowledge of the central government in Baghdad. Iranian officials said the land was intended to be used as a base for training and for launching attacks into Iran.
An official quoted by the Fars News Agency said Iran “reserves its right to target and destroy terrorist bases in the border areas.” Barzani denied any lands have been allocated to the PJAK. Continued…
Kamankar said the Iranian attack had been coordinated with local Islamist fighters. He said PJAK had succeeded in forcing the Iranians to retreat back across the borderline.
Kurdish sources in the area confirmed Iranian bombardments took place at a number of other points along the borderline over the weekend. The areas of Sehit Harun and Dola Koke, inside the Kurdish-ruled part of Iraq, also came under fire.
Both Iranian and Kurdish sources noted a buildup of Iranian forces, possibly indicating further escalation ahead. IRNA reported the presence of 5,000 Iranian troops along the border.
PJAK sources noted Iranian forces were equipped with armor, missile-launching equipment and helicopter gunships.
The Iranian incursion into the Kurdish-ruled area of northern Iraq is the latest stage in a process of escalation that has been under way over the last month. On July 3, Massoud Barzani, president of Iraqi Kurdistan, warned the Iranians over ongoing cross-border operations by their forces.
Iran responded a week ago by accusing Barzani’s government of allocating 300,000 hectares of land to the PJAK without the knowledge of the central government in Baghdad. Iranian officials said the land was intended to be used as a base for training and for launching attacks into Iran.
An official quoted by the Fars News Agency said Iran “reserves its right to target and destroy terrorist bases in the border areas.” Barzani denied any lands have been allocated to the PJAK. Continued…