Iran shells Kurdish opposition groups in Erbil’s Sidakan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday shelled offices of Kurdish opposition groups in Erbil’s Sidakan district, accusing the Kurdish parties of inciting “chaos” in the country as demonstrations condemning the controversial death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini grow by the day.

Amini’s death, while in police custody for allegedly wearing the hijab in an improper manner, sparked outrage across the Kurdish areas of western Iran (Rojhelat) where large demonstrations and strikes have been held for over a week. The town of Oshnavieh, known in Kurdish as Shno, reportedly fell into the hands of protesters on Friday evening, as videos circulating on Iranian and Kurdish social media depicted thousands of young men and women marching through the city, and setting ablaze government offices, banks, and an IRGC base.

Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the IRGC, stated that the shelling targeted offices of Komala and the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) for allegedly sending “armed teams and a large amount of weapons… to the border cities of the country to cause chaos.”

Sidakan’s mayor Ihsan Chalabi confirmed the news to Rudaw, saying the incident has not resulted in any casualties or damages, apart from starting fires in the mountainous areas of the district.

A statement from the IRGC said that the attack comes due to the “negligence and indifference” of “regional authorities,” referring to authorities in the Kurdistan Region, “in spite of numerous reminders and warning” to prevent the establishment and activities of the anti-Iranian regime groups.

It also urged the locals of the Kurdistan Region to “stay away” from offices and locations of the Kurdish armed groups.

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Leader Masoud Barzani on Monday extended his condolences to Amini’s family, wishing for the “implementation of justice.”

The KDPI is a Kurdish opposition party that has waged an on-and-off armed war against the Iranian government since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Komala is a leftist Kurdish armed opposition party based in the Kurdistan Region and fighting for the rights of Kurds in Iran.