US, Israel destroy several military bases in Iran’s Rojhelat

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - On the seventh day of US and Israeli strikes on Iranian military and security bases in the Kurdish-majority areas of Iran known as Rojhelat, more than 20 sites were bombed. Most of the attacks were in Urmia county in West Azerbaijan province, as well as in Kermanshah and Ilam provinces. For the first time since the start of the strikes, several military bases and barracks in border areas near the international border with Turkey were also bombed.

On Friday, US and Israeli aircraft continued flying over the skies of Rojhelat, bombing several targets. Some targets were hit by missiles and others by aircraft. Residents in Rojhelat say the low-altitude flights of US and Israeli aircraft and their prolonged presence in the skies indicate that Iran's air defense system in Rojhelat has weakened.

Kermanshah province

From Thursday midnight until Friday afternoon, the sound of several powerful explosions was heard repeatedly in Kermanshah city and its surroundings, as several military bases and sites inside the city were bombed in airstrikes.

Iranian media published videos of several houses, saying they are civilian residential areas. According to information residents of Kermanshah conveyed to the media, the IRGC command and a police base on Gozarname Street were targeted by missiles. These sites have been bombed several times in recent days.

Also on Thursday midnight, the Iranian army command center in Kermanshah province was bombed. After the strike, the sound of a powerful explosion was heard and heavy fire rose from the site.

In Sarpol-e Zahab city in Kermanshah province, an intelligence base was bombed. According to published videos, the Sarpol-e Zahab intelligence building collapsed due to the strike.

Inside and around Paveh city, late Thursday night and Friday morning, several military bases were bombed.

According to information published by human rights organizations, IRGC and border guard forces in some areas of Kermanshah province have evacuated their bases and moved elsewhere. In some places such as Qasr-e Shirin, border guard and IRGC forces have also reportedly changed their uniforms.

West Azerbaijan province

On Thursday night and Friday, Mahabad city center and its surroundings were bombed at least four times.

On the Mahabad-Sharaviran road, before the Darelek intersection, the IRGC air defense base was bombed twice. The base had also been targeted once in previous days.

Inside Mahabad city, a building next to the city’s Red Crescent organization and, at 8 a.m., police base number 11 were targeted. As a result of the bombing, the police base commander was killed along with an officer and a soldier. A resident of Mahabad told Rudaw that aircraft continued flying over the city on Friday, but no sites were bombed after noon.

Also in Miandoab city on Friday, at least one military base was targeted. This marks the first time in this war that Iranian military positions in Miandoab have been attacked.

In Takab city, the main barracks and the IRGC command center were hit by three missiles. According to a video published by the Takab Red Crescent, the attack caused extensive damage to the barracks.

For the first time since the start of the war, Iranian military bases in border cities of Rojhelat near the international border with Turkey were targeted on Friday. In the cities of Maku, Salmas, and Bazargan, several military bases were bombed.

In Maku city, the main IRGC base and the city’s border guard command were struck by missiles. In Bazargan city, a police base was also bombed.

Ilam province

On Friday afternoon, at least three sites inside Ilam city were bombed. The Ilam border guard command, an IRGC base on Beheshti Street, and another IRGC base at the Moqhavemat intersection were targeted. According to images published by Ilam media, one of the IRGC bases was completely destroyed.

In the cities of Malekshahi, Eyvan, and Abdanan in Ilam province, several military and government sites were also bombed with missiles. According to available information, in Eyvan the district governor’s building and an IRGC command center next to it were targeted, while in Malekshahi a military base outside the city was bombed.

According to unconfirmed information, in Abdanan city a barracks housing air defense forces, a Basij base, and a school where IRGC forces were stationed were also bombed.

Lorestan province

On Friday, the number of attacks on Iranian security and military bases and barracks in Lorestan province was lower than in recent days.

On Friday morning and afternoon, several security and military sites in Poldokhtar city were bombed. One of the sites targeted was an intelligence base.

The deputy governor of Lorestan for political and security affairs said six civilians were wounded in the attacks on the city.

Iranian media in Lorestan have so far published the names of 50 people killed in attacks in the province. All those whose names were published are military officers.

Kurdistan province

On Friday afternoon, an IRGC barracks in Baneh city in Sanandaj county was bombed again. The barracks and another nearby target were struck twice.

On Friday morning, an IRGC barracks in Saqqez city was also bombed again with missiles. People who published videos of the strike said loud explosions and heavy fire followed the bombardment.

The Hana Human Rights Organization said that according to information it received from inside the 228th Brigade barracks of the army in Saqqez city, soldiers have been allowed to leave the barracks and return to their homes.

Media close to the IRGC reported that since the start of the war, more than 40 sites in Sanandaj have been targeted, with several locations bombed multiple times.

Rudaw has learned that in Kermanshah, Ilam, Mehran, Paveh, Kerend-e Gharb, Sanandaj, Bukan, Mahabad, Shino, and several other cities, people have become victims after going to targeted sites following the bombings.

In Bukan, after the district governor’s office was bombed Wednesday night, residents went to the site. Shortly afterward, the cinema hall behind the district governor’s office was also bombed. Several people were killed and others wounded.

An activist in Sanandaj told Rudaw: “Some of the sites that are targeted are not security and military sites, but the Islamic republic of Iran forces went into those civilian houses and buildings to take shelter from the bombings, so during the bombings people quickly go to find out what happened and who was in that place, but that is a dangerous thing.”

Iran’s police command and provincial police have also asked people not to go to bombing sites, saying, “Some of the bombs explode twice,” once when targeting the site and again within a few minutes to a few hours after the bombings.