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Kurdish militias hold ground in NW Iran — IRGC counterattack repelled

·West Azerbaijan province, Iran

Kurdish militia forces (PJAK/KDPI) are holding their initial positions in north-western Iran into Day 2 of the ground offensive. An overnight IRGC counterattack was repelled. Kurdish forces now reportedly control two border crossings and several villages in West Azerbaijan province.

Kurdish militia sources (PJAK and KDPI) reported overnight that their forces repelled an IRGC counterattack in the West Azerbaijan border region. The IRGC sent three armoured columns, two of which were repelled — one column reportedly retreated after heavy losses. Kurdish forces claim to control the Tamarchin and Sero border crossings and approximately 15 villages in the Urmia Lake lowland area. These claims have not been independently verified. A US official told Axios: 'We are monitoring the situation closely. The Kurdish forces are showing significant military capability.' The official declined to comment on any US support role. The PMF (Iraqi) has fired rockets at Kurdish positions inside Iraq in retaliation, killing 3 KDPI fighters at a base near Sulaymaniyah. ISW assessment: 'IRGC is being forced to split forces between the air campaign in the south and the ground offensive in the north-west. This is the multi-front squeeze the coalition needs.'
kurdishpjakkdpinorthwest-iranground-offensiveirgcwest-azerbaijan

Actor responses

IranOPPOSINGMilitary Response

IRGC Ground Forces: 'Kurdish terrorist groups will be annihilated. Two armored columns deployed to West Azerbaijan.'

United StatesNEUTRALIntelligence Assessment

US official (background): 'Kurdish forces are holding ground. IRGC counterattack was repelled — this is strategically significant.'

Sources

T3PJAK statement50% reliability
T1Axios93% reliability
T1ISW90% reliability

Related signals (2)

Al Jazeera English@@AJEnglishHIGH

DEVELOPING: Kurdish militias report holding ground inside Iran for 2nd day. IRGC overnight counterattack reportedly repelled. Kurdish forces claim control of 2 border crossings and 15 villages in West Azerbaijan. PJAK: 'We are not leaving.' Unverified. US official to Axios: 'Monitoring closely.'

2026-03-05 06:00 UTC
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PHAROS NOTEIf Kurdish territorial control is confirmed, this is a de facto partition of NW Iran. The IRGC counterattack failing matters — it shows IRGC ground forces are degraded not just from air strikes but from force depletion over 6 days.
Mahabad News@@mahaboradHIGH

Kurdish forces holding ground in NW Iran after Day 1 breakthrough. IRGC 44th Armored counterattack repelled near Piranshahr. PJAK and Komala now control 3 district centres. Second front inside Iran.

2026-03-05 05:00 UTC
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PHAROS NOTERare operational detail. IRGC 44th named — source has access to Iranian order of battle. 3 district centres is major.