TEHRAN -- The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force on Wednesday staged a military exercise in Iran’s western province of Kurdistan with the aim of cleansing mountainous areas in Sarvabad city of anti-revolutionary groups.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the drill, commander of IRGC’s Hamze Sayyid al-Shohada Base on Wednesday said the Kusalan heights in Sarvabad were totally cleansed of elements linked with hostile groups.
General Muhammad Taqi Osanlou said the elements had been harassing local residents and undermining the security of the region which has a pristine nature and is suitable for livestock raising.
The commander restoration of security to the region would help restore calm and allow the local people to resume their economic activities without the presence of terrorists.
Last year, the IRGC launched several rounds of military strikes on the positions of separatist groups in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.
The first stage of the attacks began on September 24, after attempts by terrorists to ignite riots and unrest along border cities west of Iran.
The move by IRGC Ground Force to hit Iraqi-based Komalah and Democrat terrorist groups came after illegal entry by these groups’ armed teams into the Iranian border cities.
Meanwhile, the IRGC Ground Force has smashed a team of terrorists in the country’s southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan close to the border with Pakistan, the force’s Quds Base said in a statement on Wednesday.
It said the team had been busted before carrying out its plans for terrorist operations in the southern part of the province.
The statement added that the IRGC servicemen ambushed the terrorist team and disbanded it in cooperation with the Intelligence Ministry forces.
Two terrorists were killed and a third one was arrested in the operation, which also resulted in the confiscation of ammunition, weapons and explosives, it said.
Sistan and Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan, has witnessed several terror attacks targeting both civilians and security forces over the past years.
Terrorist groups carrying out attacks against Iranian interests in the southeastern and southwestern parts of the country have known links to a number of repressive regimes in the Persian Gulf region.
Iran’s security forces have invariably protected the border areas and managed to repel almost all terrorist attacks by foreign-backed anti-revolution elements across the country.