Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps has announced the launch of new operations against PJAK forces, Iranian media report.
The announcement indicates that the IRGC had given the PJAK forces a month-long opportunity to withdraw from the border regions of northwest Iran, during the month of Ramadan. The new operations are aimed at pushing the Kurdish group back from the mountain region of Sardasht county.
Iranian forces say the operations will continue until security is established in the region.
The IRGC began widespread operations against the Kurdish militant group, Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), in July. Since then, both sides have reported inflicting heavy casualties on each other.
Iran accuses Iraq of failing to monitor the security of its border region with Iran.
Meanwhile, Turkey has begun air raids in the Kurdish region of Ghandil, firing on the PKK, a Kurdish separatist group in Turkey.
Human Rights Watch has warned that Iran and Turkey may not be taking the necessary precautions to avoid civilian deaths.
