6 Iranian soldiers and deputy commander killed by Kurdish fighters

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – At least 6 Iranian Revolutionary Guards, including a deputy commander were killed in clashes with members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party-Iran in the Kurdish town of Shno on Wednesday, the group said.

"In fighting with the KDP-I, 6 Iranian soldiers were gunned down and 14 others wounded," Rostam Jahangiri, head of the KDPI political and military commission said.

According to information obtained by Rudaw, Haji Samad, deputy commander of the revolutionary guards in Shno is among the dead.

Clashes are reportedly ongoing today.

The Iranian security forces have used artillery in the area near Shno to fight back the Kurdish group.

In the meantime, Iranian state media IRNA reported that eight Kurdish rebels were killed in the fight.

More Iranian security forces have reportedly been dispatched from Piranshahr to Shno as reinforcement.

The KDPI and its other branches ceased armed activities against Iran some years ago to seek a political solution. But since the beginning of the year leaders say they have moved some of their fighters into towns and the border areas.

Similar confrontations between the Iranian government and Kurdish rebels took place last month in the villages of Sardasht province.

Shno is located in a mountainous area in Iran’s West Azerbaijan Province.