13 Killed as Iran Targets Dissidents in Iraq

Facts

• On Wednesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said it had fired missiles and drones at militant targets in the Kurdish region of Iraq, killing 13 people and wounding 58, according to Iraqi officials.¹
• The headquarters of three Iranian Kurdish opposition parties were reportedly targeted, but there were reports of civilian areas also being hit. This was the first Iranian attack inside Iraq since March.²
• Iran stated that drone and artillery attacks will be carried out 'until the threat is effectively repelled, terrorist group bases are dismantled, and the authorities of the Kurdish region assume their obligations and responsibilities.'³
• The strikes came after Tehran accused armed Iranian-Kurdish dissidents of participating in the unrest currently occurring across Iran, particularly in its Kurdistan province in the country's northwest region.⁴
• Protests have swept Iran since 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini died in September while in police custody for allegedly violating rules on clothing. At least 60 people have reportedly died so far as the government seeks to crack down on demonstrations.⁴
• Iraq's Foreign Ministry said it would summon the Iranian ambassador to Baghdad over the attacks. This comes as the capital also faces separate unrest, with rockets launched at - and supporters of Iraqi Shiite Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Wednesday attempting to storm - the heavily-fortified 'Green Zone' while Iraqi lawmakers were gathered in parliament for the first session since August.⁵

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²Washington Post, ³I24news, ⁴Al Jazeera and ⁵Newsweek.

Narratives

• Anti-Iran narrative, as provided by The Jerusalem Post. Though Iranian attacks on Iraqi soil are not new, the IRGC seems to be escalating their attacks by bombing civilian regions and regions close to the Iraqi government and US forces. With the regime failing to quash simmering protests at home, Iran is using its military might to devastate Kurdish opposition forces across the border and destabilize the region.
• Pro-Iran narrative, as provided by Tehran Times. The IRGC warned Kurdish officials multiple times that it was unacceptable for terrorist and secessionist groups to freely operate in northern Iraq. However, local authorities ignored these messages, leaving no other option than this operation. Meanwhile, the media and Iraqi Kurdish officials falsely accuse Iran of killing civilians, when they hit military targets only.