Violent clashes between Iranian forces and PJAK - Analysis
Violent clashes between Iranian forces and PJAK - Analysis
After long military preparations for a ground incursion into Iraqi Kurdistan against the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK), the Iranian military has launched a ground attack in the region of Kandil on Friday. At least 21 soldiers and six auxiliaries were killed in the fighting with the PJAK, according to Kurdish sources.
The Iranian army had suffered a serious setback during the operation launched on July 16 along the border with Iraq, losing several commanders of the operation.
On July 21, three generals and five commanders were killed in an ambush in Dola Koke, in the region of Kandil. They were Abbas Assem of the Corps Revolutionary Guards in Qom (center), Delavar Ranjbarzadeh colonel, commander of the Revolutionary Guards (Pasdaran) in the region of Sardasht (Iranian Kurdistan, north-western Iran) , commander of special forces Hadjiagha Maroufi and five other senior commanders: Ali Akhbar Jamrassi, Mahmoud Tabar, Najat Mousavi, Mahdi Khabir, Rohoullah Sehrahi.
Two other commanders, Colonel Muhammad Abdullah and Colonel Aram Habibollah Zadeh, were killed July 17 in the region of Komasan in an ambush carried out by guerrillas.
While the Iranian regime has not confirmed the death of these commanders, they have begun a new operation, in coordination with Turkey. In July, Iranian artillery shelling killed three Iraqi Kurdish civilians, included a child.
After the army warned Kurdish villagers, especially in the areas of Sardasht, Piranshar and Khoy, and sent reinforcements during the month of August, a new attack was launched on September 2 in Zele, in the region Kandil against the PJAK, a military and political organization, now very active in the Kurdish community in Iran.
At least 21 soldiers and six village guards (Kurdish militiamen at the service of the army) were killed and two military vehicles were destroyed in the fighting on September 2, according to Kurdish sources. The names of two of the village guards killed were revealed: Omar and Mostafa Sersipe Balawi.
In the night between Friday and Saturday, new fighting erupted when soldiers tried to enter Iraqi Kurdistan to Deshta Wezne in the border region of Sardasht. A tank was destroyed by the PJAK, say the sources.
The bombings against Iranian Kurdish villages in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan which continue since Friday have caused serious damage to farms of villages, according to a local Iraqi.
"The Iranian artillery launched a new bombing border villages" near Qalat Dizah, said the mayor of this town, Hassan Abdullah, quoted by AFP. He says that the shooting began Friday around 5:30 p.m. (1430 GMT) and continued until 6:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m.)
Turkey is also preparing a new operation, with the placet and technology support of NATO and the United States, making a foray into the region of Khakurke under control of the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers Party. According to sources, the cross-border ground operation would begin on September 4.
The aim of the operation is to take control of three regions: Khinere, and Khakurke Kandil. Once achieved, Turkey would advance on the five other areas of the PKK, Zap, Station, Haftanin, Metin, and Zagros.
This operation may be suspended temporarily due to the crisis which broke out between Turkey and Israel, after the disclosure by the U.S. of the report on the Mavi Marmara.
As far as the Kurdish Regional Government is concerned, Neçirwan Barzani and a most-senior delegation had visited Iran. The visit was followed by Neçirwan Barzani’s announcement that the Tehran government invited the Federal Kurdistan Regional President Massoud Barzani to Iran.
According to new reports we received, Iranian officials openly threatened the Southern forces during the contacts with Neçirvan Barzani with ‘breaking off the commercial, military and diplomatic relations if they go against this operation’.
Iran is trying to keep its front of alliance forces wider for its second invasion attempt. It primarily wanted the Southern forces to take part in the operation directly. Tehran, regarding this almost impossible, is now putting pressure on the Kurdish government to at least remain passive.
Meanwhile, one more delegation from South Kurdistan will reportedly go to Iran to hold talks on September 6 or 7. While the ground operation has openly started, the delegation’s visit to Tehran reminds of the 'hostage' tactics applied by old feudal states while going to war. However, the delegation was invited by the Iranian government which applies this tactics against South Kurdistan.
Reports coming point out that both Iran and Turkey are progressing towards the border to form a buffer area in the regions they enter in, which means that the operation or the occupation will be long standing.
The Iranian army had suffered a serious setback during the operation launched on July 16 along the border with Iraq, losing several commanders of the operation.
On July 21, three generals and five commanders were killed in an ambush in Dola Koke, in the region of Kandil. They were Abbas Assem of the Corps Revolutionary Guards in Qom (center), Delavar Ranjbarzadeh colonel, commander of the Revolutionary Guards (Pasdaran) in the region of Sardasht (Iranian Kurdistan, north-western Iran) , commander of special forces Hadjiagha Maroufi and five other senior commanders: Ali Akhbar Jamrassi, Mahmoud Tabar, Najat Mousavi, Mahdi Khabir, Rohoullah Sehrahi.
Two other commanders, Colonel Muhammad Abdullah and Colonel Aram Habibollah Zadeh, were killed July 17 in the region of Komasan in an ambush carried out by guerrillas.
While the Iranian regime has not confirmed the death of these commanders, they have begun a new operation, in coordination with Turkey. In July, Iranian artillery shelling killed three Iraqi Kurdish civilians, included a child.
After the army warned Kurdish villagers, especially in the areas of Sardasht, Piranshar and Khoy, and sent reinforcements during the month of August, a new attack was launched on September 2 in Zele, in the region Kandil against the PJAK, a military and political organization, now very active in the Kurdish community in Iran.
At least 21 soldiers and six village guards (Kurdish militiamen at the service of the army) were killed and two military vehicles were destroyed in the fighting on September 2, according to Kurdish sources. The names of two of the village guards killed were revealed: Omar and Mostafa Sersipe Balawi.
In the night between Friday and Saturday, new fighting erupted when soldiers tried to enter Iraqi Kurdistan to Deshta Wezne in the border region of Sardasht. A tank was destroyed by the PJAK, say the sources.
The bombings against Iranian Kurdish villages in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan which continue since Friday have caused serious damage to farms of villages, according to a local Iraqi.
"The Iranian artillery launched a new bombing border villages" near Qalat Dizah, said the mayor of this town, Hassan Abdullah, quoted by AFP. He says that the shooting began Friday around 5:30 p.m. (1430 GMT) and continued until 6:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m.)
Turkey is also preparing a new operation, with the placet and technology support of NATO and the United States, making a foray into the region of Khakurke under control of the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers Party. According to sources, the cross-border ground operation would begin on September 4.
The aim of the operation is to take control of three regions: Khinere, and Khakurke Kandil. Once achieved, Turkey would advance on the five other areas of the PKK, Zap, Station, Haftanin, Metin, and Zagros.
This operation may be suspended temporarily due to the crisis which broke out between Turkey and Israel, after the disclosure by the U.S. of the report on the Mavi Marmara.
As far as the Kurdish Regional Government is concerned, Neçirwan Barzani and a most-senior delegation had visited Iran. The visit was followed by Neçirwan Barzani’s announcement that the Tehran government invited the Federal Kurdistan Regional President Massoud Barzani to Iran.
According to new reports we received, Iranian officials openly threatened the Southern forces during the contacts with Neçirvan Barzani with ‘breaking off the commercial, military and diplomatic relations if they go against this operation’.
Iran is trying to keep its front of alliance forces wider for its second invasion attempt. It primarily wanted the Southern forces to take part in the operation directly. Tehran, regarding this almost impossible, is now putting pressure on the Kurdish government to at least remain passive.
Meanwhile, one more delegation from South Kurdistan will reportedly go to Iran to hold talks on September 6 or 7. While the ground operation has openly started, the delegation’s visit to Tehran reminds of the 'hostage' tactics applied by old feudal states while going to war. However, the delegation was invited by the Iranian government which applies this tactics against South Kurdistan.
Reports coming point out that both Iran and Turkey are progressing towards the border to form a buffer area in the regions they enter in, which means that the operation or the occupation will be long standing.
