Participation of Iraqi Forces in Iranian Army Exercises

The third phase of the military exercise known as 'Haider Karar' of the Iranian Army began on Monday, October 2, with the participation of Iraqi forces at the western borders of Iran, including the Parviz Khan border, one of the most important communication gateways between Iran and Iraq. The Tasnim news agency did not specify the number of Iraqi forces participating in the Iranian military exercise. According to this report, in this phase, rapid reaction units, artillery, and drone units of the army are participating. Tasnim noted that this phase of the exercise is taking place at the western borders and the Parviz Khan border. The news agency added that the army is also assessing the capabilities of its armored forces, artillery, missiles, drones, helicopters, and mobile and offensive forces in this phase. Previously, Massoud Jazayeri, the senior spokesman for the Iranian armed forces, announced that Iran and Iraq are conducting joint exercises in the border areas of Iraqi Kurdistan with Iran. According to ISNA news agency, the purpose of this exercise is Iran's cooperation 'to establish the sovereignty of the central government at the border crossings between Iran and Iraq.' Previously, Iraq had also participated in Turkish military exercises in northern Iraq. The participation of Iraqi forces in these two exercises comes after the independence referendum in the Kurdistan region and Baghdad's opposition to its outcome, with Iraqi military forces taking control of the borders of this region on October 1. In this context, the Associated Press reported, citing a Kurdish official, that Iraqi army forces have been deployed in the Turkish section of the border with the Kurdistan region. After the independence referendum in the Kurdistan region last Monday, the central government of Iraq demanded the annulment of the referendum results and warned that if this demand was rejected, the Kurdistan region would face sanctions, international isolation, and possible military intervention. Both Iran and Turkey supported this demand from Iraq. Iranian domestic media reported that the Iraqi government coordinated its plan to dominate the border crossings of the Kurdistan region with Iran and Turkey. In the meantime, reports indicate the deployment of military forces by Baghdad near the borders of the Kurdistan region. However, the Associated Press wrote that 'these forces are not expected to enter the territory of the Kurdistan region.' The Kurdistan independence referendum was held on October 1 with a participation rate of 72% of eligible voters, and over 92% of participants supported the independence of the Kurdistan region of Iraq.