Peshmerga Forces Controlled the Road Between Mehabad and Xane
The Operational Command of PDKI’s Peshmerga Forces reported that the road between Mehabad and Xane (Piranshar) was under the control of the Peshmerga Forces for more than one hour. Moreover, the Peshmerga Forces held a public meeting for hundreds of people in Doli Hawshinai, an area in the vicinity of Mehabad.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) clashed with the Peshmerga Forces in Mehabad on June 24, 2016. The clashes occurred in the villages of Do Choman, Bagrdan, Hassan Chap and Ingotin. The clashes lasted for several hours. Iran’s IRGC suffered heavy losses in these clashes. Later, Iranian state television falsely claimed that five Peshmergas had been martyred in these clashes by showing images of two PDKI Peshmergas who had been martyred in Mariwan.
Contrary to Iranian claims, PDKI’s Peshmerga Forces have not suffered any casualties or injuries in the clashes in Mehabad. Furthermore, the Peshmerga Forces have increased their presence in Mehabad and surrounding regions.
The public meeting in Doli Hawshinai was held thanks to the presence of a great number of Peshmergas who could protect PDKI officials and civilians who attend the meeting.
A PDKI official gave a speech at the meeting, in which she outlined the party’s new strategy of popular resistance against the Islamist regime in Iran. The Kurdish civilians who attended the meeting expressed their support for PDKI’s new strategy.
Kurdish civilians also expressed their joy at the presence of the Peshmerga Forces and the fact that they could attend a public meeting without fearing attacks by Iranian forces.