2011 Iran–Iraq cross-border raids

2011 Iran–Iraq cross-border raids
Part of the Iran–PJAK conflict
DateJuly 11, 2011 – September 29, 2011
Location
Result

Iranian victory

  • PJAK activities decreased in the border areas.
  • PJAK operational commander Majid Kavian killed.
  • Kurdistan Regional Government and Iraqi Central Government agree to take measures against PJAK to keep border regions peaceful.
  • PJAK agrees to end armed operations.
Belligerents

 Iran

PJAK
Commanders and leaders

Ataollah Salehi
Mohammad Ali Jafari
Ali Fazli
Abbas Ali Jannesari 
Mohammad Taqi Osanlou
Hossein Zolfaqari
Abbas Asemi 
Abdollah Araqi
Nasser Shabani
Ahmad Reza Pourdastan

Mehdi Mahdavinejad

Majid Kavian 
Murat Karasac 
Ruzhat Butan 

Shirzad Kamangar
Strength
5,000 600
Casualties and losses

20 killed
(Iranian claim)
320 killed


(PJAK claim)
180 killed, 300 wounded
(Iranian claim)
16 killed (by mid August)
(PJAK claim)
230 families displaced (by August 3)
10 civilians killed
Total: 210–326+ killed

2011 Iran–Iraq cross-border raids were a series of operations, performed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), against the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), a Kurdish rebel group. The operations began in July 2011, and included attacks on PJAK bases in Iranian territory, penetration into Iraqi Kurdistan territory, bombing of PJAK associated bases and villages in Kurdish controlled Iraqi areas and direct targeting of Kurdish guerrilla command in Qandil mountains. The clashes resulted in dozens killed and wounded on both sides, with hundreds of displaced Kurdish villagers. The exact numbers of casualties on each side are a matter of controversy.

On September 29, PJAK accepted Iranian terms and withdrew fully from Iran's soil in what Iranian commanders described as a surrender. According to the IRGC they killed over 180 PJAK fighters and injured over 300 during the operations. The operation cost Iran $150 million. The cease-fire was violated by the sides in December 2011, in Baneh.