Iran builds military outpost on Cheekha Dar mountain, highest peak in Kurdistan Region, Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region -- Iran has recently built a military outpost on the peak of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq’s highest mountain, locals say.

Cheekha Dar mountain in northern Erbil province, located 15 kilometers northwest of the Haji Omaran border crossing with Iran, stands at 3,611 meters. It is close to Mount Halgurd, which stands at 3,607 meters high.

Iran has recently took control of the mountain peak and fenced it with barbed wire, building roads leading to it from Iran.

Mountain climbers used to recreationally climb the mountain.

“Not only the people of Kurdistan, but foreigners asked us to take them to the Cheekha Dar mountain,” said Salar Ismael, a mountaineer. “We used to climb Cheekha Dar and measure its height. It’s higher than Mount Halgurd.”

Local officials say Iran has defacto annexed the territory between it and the border.

“The 57th and 40th land plots are Iraqi territory, but Iran built a wall and included the two plots within its borders,” Abdulwahab Mahmood, mayor of Haji Omaran, told Rudaw.

“The presence of Iraq’s border guards is not good enough. They lack logistical capabilities. Even with the presence of the Support Forces 1 [of Peshmerga], these areas can be controlled, but a large portion of the border areas are outside the control of the Kurdistan Region and Iraqi border guards. As a result, Iran has trespassed on the territory,” he added.

Iraq and Iran have discussed reviewing their border over the past six months.

“This is a matter between two countries and not an internal Iraqi matter, we might act in case anything happens,” said Major General Tahsin al-Khafaji, spokesman for Iraq's Joint Operation Command. “However, dialogue and those allowed to hold this dialogue is definitely the Iraqi government and the foreign ministry, but work is being done on this matter and we are in continuous contact with them.”

Local officials tell Rudaw that Iran has built dozens of military outposts in the border areas of Pishdar, Choman and Sidakan.

Translation by Sarkawt Mohammed