PJAK leader says Turkey using Iran to hold America hostage
PJAK leader says Turkey using Iran to hold America hostage
In an interview with Newsmax in Stockholm, Abdul Rahman Haji Ahmadi leader of the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), said that PJAK had advance warning that Iran’s forces planned to attack its bases in the Qandil Mountains along Iraq’s northeastern border with Iran.
Ahmadi also confirmed that PJAK guerrillas killed more than 300 Iranian Revolutionary Guards troops, including three generals and 15 decorated commanders while sustaining just 16 casualties, during two weeks of running battles along the Iran-Iraq border last month.
Having had advance knowledge of an incoming attack, PJAK developed guerilla tactics to ambush the attacking forces and drive them back across the border into Iran.
"Now everyone can see how powerful PJAK has become," Ahmadi said. "For Kurds, Qandil has become like Mecca, a sacred place. This is where we have shown our strength."
Iranian troops attacked PJAK forward positions on the Iranian side of the mountains on July 16, inflicting heavily losses among the guerilla forces.
"We lost eight fighters in the first day of this war, and for us this was a heavy loss," Ahmadi said.
"The fighting was so close that they couldn’t use their technology against us," Ahmadi said. "It was hand-to-hand combat."
Iran’s biggest advantage was access to intelligence from Israeli-made Heron surveillance drones that Turkish Special Forces troops flew over the battlefield in coordination with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. "This limited our ability to move, but it didn’t matter much since most of our positions were underground," Ahmadi told Newsmax.
Over the next 10 days, the battle moved back into Iran, where PJAK forces attacked IRGC garrisons and flying roadblocks that Iranian troops had set up to harass Kurdish villagers and press them into military service against the guerillas.
"In one attack against an IRGC roadblock, one of our female commanders single-handedly killed 15 of their troops. This is a huge shift in the Islamic world. Not only do we treat women as equals, but they are heroes," Ahmadi said to Newsmax.
On July 22, the regime acknowledged that the commanding general of the attacking force and five other senior officers had been killed during the fighting. The next day, they had a public funeral for the six officers that was broadcast on state television.
Iran also has acknowledged it was calling up veteran commanders from the 1980-1988 Iraq war in Gilan province because it had lost so many officers during the fighting.
"The heavy losses have demoralized them, so they are starting to bring fresh troops into the region," Ahmadi said. "We are expecting another attack. They can’t back down."
Ahmadi said there is substantial evidence that Turkey aided Iran in the recent fighting, which would violate Turkey’s status as a NATO member.
"Our people repeatedly saw Turkish tanks crossing back and forth between Turkey and Iran to help the IRGC in the battle," he said.
The local Kurdish militia repatriated the bodies of five Turkish soldiers who had been killed in the fighting in Sardasht, far from Turkey.
"Turkey is using its relationship with Iran to hold America hostage," Ahmadi said. "They are basically saying to Washington, if you weaken your support for us, we will strengthen our ties with Tehran."
Ahmadi also pointed out that "Iran’s goal is to drive PJAK out of Qandil and replace us with Ansar al Islam, al-Qaida, and Hezbollah." Ahmadi added that "If Qandil falls, the Kurdish Regional Government [in Iraq] will come under Iranian control. Then Iran will control both the Shia and the Kurdish populations in Iraq. I fear the United States is not aware of how great a danger this is, not just for Iraq, but for U.S. allies such as Saudi Arabia.”
Ahmadi was adamant that PJAK will not lay down its arms unless the regime agrees to its seven-point plan for transforming Iran into a democratic confederation.
"We are not just fighting for Kurds, but for the rights and the freedom of all Iranians," Ahmadi told Newsmax. "Think of Iran as a burning seven-story building, with Kurds living on the fourth floor. How can you save your own apartment, unless you fight the fire to save the whole building?" he said. "We are hoping to free Iran from Qandil, and welcome all who want to join this fight."
Ahmadi also confirmed that PJAK guerrillas killed more than 300 Iranian Revolutionary Guards troops, including three generals and 15 decorated commanders while sustaining just 16 casualties, during two weeks of running battles along the Iran-Iraq border last month.
Having had advance knowledge of an incoming attack, PJAK developed guerilla tactics to ambush the attacking forces and drive them back across the border into Iran.
"Now everyone can see how powerful PJAK has become," Ahmadi said. "For Kurds, Qandil has become like Mecca, a sacred place. This is where we have shown our strength."
Iranian troops attacked PJAK forward positions on the Iranian side of the mountains on July 16, inflicting heavily losses among the guerilla forces.
"We lost eight fighters in the first day of this war, and for us this was a heavy loss," Ahmadi said.
"The fighting was so close that they couldn’t use their technology against us," Ahmadi said. "It was hand-to-hand combat."
Iran’s biggest advantage was access to intelligence from Israeli-made Heron surveillance drones that Turkish Special Forces troops flew over the battlefield in coordination with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. "This limited our ability to move, but it didn’t matter much since most of our positions were underground," Ahmadi told Newsmax.
Over the next 10 days, the battle moved back into Iran, where PJAK forces attacked IRGC garrisons and flying roadblocks that Iranian troops had set up to harass Kurdish villagers and press them into military service against the guerillas.
"In one attack against an IRGC roadblock, one of our female commanders single-handedly killed 15 of their troops. This is a huge shift in the Islamic world. Not only do we treat women as equals, but they are heroes," Ahmadi said to Newsmax.
On July 22, the regime acknowledged that the commanding general of the attacking force and five other senior officers had been killed during the fighting. The next day, they had a public funeral for the six officers that was broadcast on state television.
Iran also has acknowledged it was calling up veteran commanders from the 1980-1988 Iraq war in Gilan province because it had lost so many officers during the fighting.
"The heavy losses have demoralized them, so they are starting to bring fresh troops into the region," Ahmadi said. "We are expecting another attack. They can’t back down."
Ahmadi said there is substantial evidence that Turkey aided Iran in the recent fighting, which would violate Turkey’s status as a NATO member.
"Our people repeatedly saw Turkish tanks crossing back and forth between Turkey and Iran to help the IRGC in the battle," he said.
The local Kurdish militia repatriated the bodies of five Turkish soldiers who had been killed in the fighting in Sardasht, far from Turkey.
"Turkey is using its relationship with Iran to hold America hostage," Ahmadi said. "They are basically saying to Washington, if you weaken your support for us, we will strengthen our ties with Tehran."
Ahmadi also pointed out that "Iran’s goal is to drive PJAK out of Qandil and replace us with Ansar al Islam, al-Qaida, and Hezbollah." Ahmadi added that "If Qandil falls, the Kurdish Regional Government [in Iraq] will come under Iranian control. Then Iran will control both the Shia and the Kurdish populations in Iraq. I fear the United States is not aware of how great a danger this is, not just for Iraq, but for U.S. allies such as Saudi Arabia.”
Ahmadi was adamant that PJAK will not lay down its arms unless the regime agrees to its seven-point plan for transforming Iran into a democratic confederation.
"We are not just fighting for Kurds, but for the rights and the freedom of all Iranians," Ahmadi told Newsmax. "Think of Iran as a burning seven-story building, with Kurds living on the fourth floor. How can you save your own apartment, unless you fight the fire to save the whole building?" he said. "We are hoping to free Iran from Qandil, and welcome all who want to join this fight."
