Iran struck on its territory groups “acting on behalf of the United States and Israel,” near the Iraqi border, the Revolutionary Guards said Monday, cited by the Isna news agency. These groups, “based in northern Iraq,” were struck “in the town of Baneh, in the Kurdistan province” as they “tried to bring into the country a large shipment of American weapons and ammunition,” added the ideological army of the Islamic Republic.
The statement does not specify which groups were involved in this alleged smuggling attempt. It is immediately unknown whether the attack has caused any casualties.
Iranian Kurdish rebels have been targeted several times since the fragile ceasefire came into effect on April 8 in the war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran. Iran describes Kurdish opposition groups as terrorist organizations, accusing them of serving Western or Israeli interests. Many of them have fought Iranian security forces in the predominantly Kurdish regions bordering Iran, especially in Iraq.
In recent years, however, these factions have largely ceased all armed activities, even though they continue to actively advocate against Tehran from exile. In February, five Iranian Kurdish groups announced the formation of a political coalition aiming to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran. Kurds are one of the largest non-Persian minorities in Iran. They are also present in Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.
