A Commander of the IRGC: Death of 12 Terrorists in the Border Area of Kermanshah

Mohammad Pakpour, the commander of the Ground Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), announced the destruction of "a team affiliated with anti-revolution and terrorist groups" in the border area of Kermanshah province, confirming that 12 individuals he referred to as "armed criminals" were killed in this operation. According to Iranian news agencies, these clashes occurred on Tuesday afternoon, October 5. The Mehr news agency, citing an informed source, reported that the exact location of this "IRGC anti-terrorism operation" was the Changerban area of Thalath Babajani County. According to the commander of the IRGC Ground Forces, "the forces of the Najaf Headquarters in the border region of Kermanshah province and local forces" participated in this "anti-terrorism operation." Pakpour emphasized that the clashes between the two sides were "intense" and the team was completely destroyed. The commander of the IRGC Ground Forces also stated that a "significant amount of weapons and ammunition" was seized from the attackers. A report published by the Tasnim news agency indicated that helicopters from the Army's Airborne Division also participated in this operation, assisting military and security forces. Ali Akbar Akbari, the head of the Thalath Babajani County administration, also confirmed the exact location of the clashes between the villages of Darreh Zhaleh and Abdalan Miraki in the Azgaleh section of this county. Thalath Babajani County is located in the northwest of Kermanshah. Images released by Tasnim news agency from the conflict area show the aftermath of the clashes. Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour described the other side of the conflict as "a team of criminals affiliated with anti-revolution and terrorist groups supported by the United States and the Zionist regime," claiming they "intended to infiltrate Iranian territory to create insecurity." Asadollah Razani, the governor of Kermanshah province, also stated in an interview with IRNA that the duration of the clashes on Tuesday afternoon was four hours and confirmed that 12 individuals, whom he referred to as "terrorists," were killed during this operation. The governor of Kermanshah also reported that "three of our forces" were injured, but their general condition is satisfactory. Razani emphasized in his interview with IRNA on Wednesday that "complete security prevails on the borders of the province and various points in this province, and there is no cause for concern." According to this government official, "the true identity of the terrorists has not yet been determined, but relevant authorities will provide information on this matter soon." The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan announced in August of this year that it had increased its military presence in "most areas" of Iranian Kurdistan "on a larger scale and as part of a defensive tactic." Following that news, intermittent reports of clashes in the western and northwestern borders of Iran have been published. In September, the governor of Sardasht reported the killing of eight members of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan in clashes with the Islamic Republic's security forces. Mohammad Hossein Maqimi, the deputy minister of the Islamic Republic, reported in mid-September on multiple attempts by the Islamic State group, ISIS, to create "insecurity" within Iranian territory over the past three months, but emphasized that these efforts have so far been "unsuccessful." Last week, Tasnim news agency reported the arrest of four individuals in the city of Marivan in western Iran, labeling them as members of a "terrorist" group that had reportedly come from northern Iraq to carry out "sabotage actions" in Iranian Kurdistan. Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of the Expediency Council, accused Saudi Arabia of establishing a "military base" in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and Pakistan to "destabilize Iran." In recent months, similar clashes have occurred in the southeastern borders of Iran in Sistan and Baluchestan province. Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, the Minister of Interior, reported in July of this year the arrest of 40 individuals who intended to carry out bombing operations by digging a tunnel under government and security centers. In this context, the Iranian Minister of Interior stated that Saudi Arabia is providing financial and intelligence assistance to criminals in the eastern part of the country. The police commander stated that the conspiracy of groups intending to invade Iran's borders has been thwarted. The IRGC issued a statement that two Pakistani terrorists were operating with financial support from Saudi Arabia. The Secretariat of the Expediency Council stated that the claim of "destroying a terrorist group" is based on the report of the Minister of Intelligence.