Intense clashes have broken out in western Iran between Kurdish militants and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as the regime expands its crackdown on widespread protests. The Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) and its armed wing, the Kurdistan National Army (SMK), say they have carried out several attacks on IRGC positions in Kermanshah and Isfahan provinces since late December.
On January 13, PAK claimed responsibility for striking IRGC bases in Kermanshah, following an earlier attack in Isfahan. Fighters reportedly captured and destroyed the headquarters of IRGC commander Firooz Safari in Bawe Kosay Zamkan, killing several personnel. The group also said it targeted an office of a Friday prayers imam in Semirom, which they alleged was being used for intelligence and repression against protesters.
PAK spokesperson Khalil Kani Sanani called on the United States and Israel for support, warning that “the situation in Iran is catastrophic” and that “over 3,000 people have been killed.”
Regime Reinforcements and Foreign Militias Enter Iran
The Iranian regime has deployed IRGC Ground Forces—an unusual move within its borders—to Kurdish-populated provinces such as Kermanshah, Ilam, and West Azerbaijan. Analysts say the decision highlights Tehran’s fear of losing control over these regions, which have long been restive and heavily monitored.
Human rights organizations report that Kurdish and Luri minority areas, including Lorestan and Kermanshah, suffered the heaviest losses since the unrest began. In a further escalation, CNN and Iran International have revealed that Iranian-backed Iraqi militias—reportedly including fighters from Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba, and the Badr Organization—have crossed into Iran.
Sources estimate that between 800 and 5,000 militiamen entered Iran under the pretext of religious visits to help suppress dissent and counter Kurdish insurgent activity. Opposition figures have claimed that Arabic-speaking personnel were seen among security forces in cities such as Ahvaz.
The arrival of foreign fighters signals the regime’s growing desperation to manage the most severe internal unrest since the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests, with casualty figures ranging from 2,600 to over 12,000 according to various human rights groups.
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