IRGC urges Iraqi Kurdistan to expel separatist militants
TEHRAN- An IRGC officer underlined on Friday that Iran has initially asked Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region to dissolve terrorist organizations and hand over them to the Islamic Republic.
Speaking with Lebanon's al-Mayadeen, Brigadier General Mohammad Taqi Osanlou, commander of the Hamzeh Seyed al-Shohada Base, stressed, “We have accumulated detailed documentation concerning terrorists sheltered by the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and we have demanded for their extradition to Iran.”
He added, “If authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan hand over these wanted terrorists to Iran as soon as possible, the security situation will improve.”
The comments come as the IRGC has launched a series of attacks on terrorist organizations operating near the country's western borders in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. The most recent of these assaults was reported on November 14.
One of the causes of the most recent violent riots in the country was the hostile operations of counterrevolutionary forces that are hiding in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. Several sources have said that the militant separatist groups have been smuggling weapons into Iran to foment unrest.
Osanlou noted that Iran has emphasized the need to dislodge militants near its borders and held around 23 meetings with Iraqi officials to resolve the matter amicably.
"Unfortunately, there are certain moves in Iraqi borders that contribute to instability," the military official said, adding, "Iranian armed forces are constantly monitoring borders in the west of the country."
Iran has already requested that Iraqi Kurdistan eradicate terrorist organizations, but the commander said "no cooperation” has yet been seen by Iraq.
The IRGC official maintained the military force was perfectly capable of targeting a terrorist group commander but held off since he was traveling with his family as the IRGC has extensive intelligence surveillance of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.
He also pointed out that “the IRGC was also successful in taking out a terrorist leader who was injured and sent to a hospital in Erbil, the provincial capital of Iraq's Kurdistan Region.”
He said that the IRGC might strike homes that harbor terrorists, saying "We can reach terrorist groups wherever they are."
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“Iran was perfectly able to target a terrorist group commander but held off since he was traveling with his family.”