August 2013 Sardasht clash

Sardasht clash Part of the Iran–PJAK conflict Date August 22, 2013 Location Sardasht, West Azerbaijan border area, North-Western Iran Belligerents  Iran Basij PJAK Strength unknown unknown Casualties and losses 7 killed (PJAK claim)[1] 2 killed (PJAK claim)[1] Total: 9 killed[1]

Iran–PJAK conflict Iran raids (2006) Kermanshah (2006) Sardasht (2006) West Azerbaijan (2007) Iraq raid (2007) Ravansar and Sanandaj (2009) Iraq raid (2010) Mahabad (2010) Iraq raids (2011) Baneh Sardasht (2013) International incidents: 2010 Iran–Iraq border clash

August 2013 Sardasht clash was a military confrontation on August 22 between Iranian security forces belonging to the Basij, the paramilitary branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK) militants. The event is a part of the Iran-PJAK conflict, lasting from 2004, and despite the cease-fire of September 2011, producing more violence. Since the cease-fire on September 2011, when Iran declared to have destroyed the PJAK (claiming the "PJAK issue is over"), several more armed confrontations followed including December 2011 clash in Baneh, April 2012 battle, May 2013 clashes and this most recent Sardasht incident.

Iranian sources didn't specifically report of the August 22 event, however on August 26, a statement was issued by IRGC representative on Fars News that "Twelve terrorist groups have been neutralized in Iran from March 20, 2013 until today...".^[2] He also added that IRGC closely supervises the movements of PJAK groups, adding that Iran's western regions are secured.^[2]

See also

• Iranian Kurdistan
• West Azerbaijan

References