Israel Hayom: Iran's army conducted ground operations against Kurdish groups in Rojhilat
RastinewsIsrael-based newspaper Israel Hayom reports that Iran's army has carried out numerous ground operations over the past two months against Kurdish opposition groups from Rojhilat (Eastern Kurdistan) operating in the Kurdistan Region.
According to the report, Brigadier General Mojtaba Jafari, an adviser to the Iranian army, said the 23rd Airborne Special Forces Brigade, part of Iran's Ground Forces, carried out a total of 14 operations in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah provinces.
Jafari said some of the operations took place while talks between Iran and the United States were still underway.
The Iranian commander claimed two Kurdish opposition members were captured in Sulaymaniyah on Sunday, and said numerous group members were killed or detained in the operations. Jafari also claimed Iranian forces suffered no losses.
Iran's largest special forces unit
The report noted that the 23rd Airborne Special Forces Brigade (Takavar Brigade), which carried out the operations, is the largest special forces unit in Iran's army.
The brigade operates independently of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force and has the capacity to conduct reconnaissance, commando and airborne operations, according to the report. It said the brigade had previously served in a limited capacity during the Syrian civil war.
"Part of a retaliation campaign"
Citing Israel Hayom, the Nerina Azad news site reported that the operations are a continuation of Iran's retaliation campaign, launched after the possibility emerged, during the "Rising Lion Operation" period, of Tehran's Kurdish opposition based in the Kurdistan Region being used against the Iranian government.
The claims regarding the operations described in this report are based on information relayed by Israel Hayom and statements from Iranian military officials. These claims have not been verified by independent sources.