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.