A Commander of the IRGC: New Military Activities of Opposition Groups in Western Iran

The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Ground Force announced that the military activities of armed Kurdish opposition groups against the Islamic Republic have increased, and that the IRGC has enhanced its intelligence capabilities in northern Iraq by 'seventy percent' and is now 'dominant' over these groups. According to Fars News Agency, Mohammad Pakpour emphasized in a press conference on Saturday, February 19, that if the Islamic State (ISIS) forces exceed the 'boundaries' set for them, they will be 'destroyed.' He noted that these armed groups have re-entered a military phase with support from 'extraterritorial organizations and some Gulf countries.' Pakpour claimed that many consulates have been established in northwest Iran and across the border to revive 'dead groups' and incite them against Iran. He stated that the Iraqi government has no sovereignty over northern regions up to the Iranian border in Sardasht, and that the Islamic Republic is dealing with 'non-state elements.' He asserted that the IRGC has increased its intelligence oversight across the border by 'about seventy percent' and is 'dominant over terrorist elements across the borders.' The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, led by Mostafa Hijri, announced on July 25 that it has expanded its military presence in 'most areas' of Iranian Kurdistan 'on a wider scale and as part of a defensive tactic.' Meanwhile, western Iran has seen numerous clashes between the military and members of this party, the PJAK group, and other armed opposition groups in recent months. Following these clashes, reports emerged in the summer of artillery shelling in border areas between 'Iraqi Kurdistan and Iranian Kurdistan,' prompting Nechirvan Barzani, the Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan, to express his 'deep concern' over Iran's actions. Previously, some Iranian officials accused Saudi Arabia of establishing a 'base' in Iraq to support Kurdish parties, but this accusation has generally been denied by Kurdish opposition parties. Pakpour also mentioned that recently ISIS elements have conducted activities in Diyala province, but no movements against the country's borders have been observed. He added, 'Certainly, ISIS would like to make our country insecure, but they will not exceed the boundaries we have set, and if they do, they will be annihilated, just as they were last year and this year, with some even being arrested.' Several military commanders have previously reported that a 40-kilometer zone along the Iran-Iraq border has been declared a 'red line' for the Islamic State's approach to Iran's borders. Iranian officials have long announced their intention to confront 'terrorist' groups affiliated with ISIS in Iran, but have yet to provide detailed accounts of operations conducted and individuals arrested or killed. The Minister of Intelligence announced on Saturday, February 11, that his forces had arrested eight non-Iranian individuals, whom he claimed were members of 'terrorist Takfiri groups,' who intended to 'disrupt' the February 11 ceremonies and carry out 'terrorist operations' in Tehran and several other cities in Iran. Mahmoud Alavi previously stated in December that security forces had identified and killed 'one of the leaders of ISIS' in 'border areas' of Iran. He referred to this 'senior ISIS member' as 'Abu Aisha Kurdi' and stated that he was identified and killed along with several other suicide operatives at the border. In this context, Iranian security officials confirmed the occurrence of two clashes between intelligence, security, and police forces in Kermanshah province with teams 'affiliated with ISIS,' announcing that four 'ISIS-affiliated individuals' were killed and six others were arrested during these clashes. Pakpour also announced that the IRGC Ground Force's military exercise titled 'Prophet Muhammad 11' will begin in the central and northeastern regions of the country in two phases starting from February 21. He mentioned that advanced and precise rockets will be tested during this exercise. Pakpour also stated that the IRGC Ground Force uses unmanned aerial vehicles, including 'suicide drones,' in its operations. Earlier in February, a four-day military exercise of the IRGC was held in western Iran.