Iran struck groups linked to the United States and Israel in the west of the country, according to the Revolutionary Guards

Iran strikes groups on its territory ‘acting for US, Israel’: Guards

Iran has targeted groups on its territory ‘acting for the United States and Israel’, near the Iraqi border, the revolution guards said Monday, cited by the Isna news agency. These groups, based in northern Iraq, were struck ‘in the city of Baneh, in the Kurdistan province’ as they ‘attempted to bring a large shipment of American weapons and ammunition into the country’, said the army of the Islamic Republic.

The statement does not specify which groups were involved in this alleged smuggling attempt. It is not immediately known if the attack caused any casualties.

Iranian Kurdish rebels have been targeted repeatedly since the fragile ceasefire, initiated 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 from the predominantly Kurdish regions bordering Iran, particularly in Iraq.

In recent years, however, these factions have largely put an end to armed activities, even though they continue, in exile, to actively campaign against Tehran. 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.