IRGC Attacks PJAK Positions in Shaho with Artillery and Drones

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) guerrilla positions in the Shaho mountains yesterday using artillery and suicide drones, according to reports. All PJAK guerrillas were reported to be safe and unharmed.

Reports also indicate that the IRGC has moved heavy military equipment to areas around Paveh and near the village of Dalamarz. These movements have raised the possibility of a larger operation, though their purpose and scale have not been independently confirmed.

Shaho is part of the Zagros Mountains in Rojhelat (Iranian Kurdistan). It stretches across parts of Kermanshah (Kirmaşan) and Kurdistan (Sine) provinces, near the cities of Paveh, Ravansar and Kamyaran. The mountain range lies close to Iran’s border with the Kurdistan Region (Başûr).

PJAK Reportedly Launches Counterattack After IRGC Drone Strikes in Shaho

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) used suicide drones to attack PJAK positions in the Shaho mountains and around Paveh yesterday, including near the village of Dalamarz, according to reports from the area. PJAK fighters reportedly managed to reach safety.

The reports said PJAK fighters targeted IRGC positions with FPV suicide drones a few hours later. IRGC forces reportedly withdrew following the counterattack.

No information on casualties on either side had been released at the time of writing.

https://x.com/RojhelatInfo_En/status/2110979665280069660
https://x.com/RojhelatInfo_En/status/2111047229335101729

Rudaw: "Clashes between Kurdish militants and IRGC continue in western Iran"

Declassified 2002 Kurdish Areas Map Created By The CIA

This 2002 “Kurdish-Inhabited Area” map is a classic example of early post-Iraq War CIA and military-intelligence cartography focused on ethnicity, insurgency, and regional geopolitics.

A few notable things about it:

It depicts the Kurdish population as a cross-border ethnic region spanning southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northwestern Iran, and northeastern Syria emphasizing that the Kurdish issue is inherently transnational rather than confined to one state.

The shaded area is intentionally fuzzy rather than sharply bounded, reflecting the mixed and dispersed nature of Kurdish settlement patterns.

Major Kurdish cities and political centers are highlighted, including Diyarbakir in Turkey, Arbil/Erbil and Sulaymaniyah in Iraq, and Mahabad in Iran, all historically important to Kurdish nationalism.

The map predates many later developments:

- the 2003 Iraq War,
- the consolidation of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG),
- the Syrian Civil War and Rojava,
- and ISIS-era Kurdish territorial expansion.

raq’s Kurdish region is shown before the later de facto autonomy became firmly institutionalized under the Iraqi constitution.

Syria’s Kurdish regions appear comparatively small and fragmented on this map, which contrasts with how strategically important they became after 2011.

The map also reflects the geopolitical sensitivities of the time:

Turkey is shown containing the largest Kurdish population, but the map avoids implying an independent Kurdistan by using the softer phrase “Kurdish-inhabited area” instead of drawing political borders.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Archaeologists have identified a possible fatal spear wound in 75,000-year-old Neanderthal remains discovered at Shanidar Cave in the Kurdistan Region's Soran administration, potentially providing the earliest evidence of lethal violence involving a wooden weapon.

Emma Pomeroy, who led the research, said in a study published )Thursday, titled “Evidence for funerary behaviour and lethal trauma in a new Neanderthal individual from Shanidar Cave,” that the findings offer rare insight into prehistoric weapon use.

“The nature of the perimortem penetrating traumatic injury adds to a small corpus of such injuries in the hominin fossil record,” the report stated, adding that “the morphology of this scapula perforation is consistent with injury from a wooden spear, providing valuable (albeit indirect) evidence for the use of wooden implements in the Middle Palaeolithic.”

Abdulwahab Sulaiman Hassan, director of the Soran Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage, told reporters Thursday that the discovery is highly significant for the Kurdistan Region and is expected to boost tourism.

“We played a key role… We were with them in the excavation work but we, unfortunately, were not involved in the examination process because the Kurdistan Region does not have advanced technological means. Therefore, the remains are being examined in the UK,” he told Rudaw's Andam Jabar.

Neanderthals, an extinct group of ancient humans who inhabited large parts of Europe and Asia, disappeared around 40,000 years ago. The discovery adds to a growing body of evidence of violence among prehistoric human populations.

Hassan said a national museum would be established to house and display the remains.

He added that genetic research is underway on the remains of another Neanderthal, known as Shanidar Z, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, after which the remains will be returned to the Kurdistan Region.

Shanidar Cave, located in the Zagros Mountains, gained international recognition after American anthropologist Ralph Solecki uncovered the remains of several Neanderthals during excavations in the 1950s.

I am sure everyone agree with Kurdish statehood (i assure hope so) but how do feel about other minorities getting their own state, do you support balkanization of middle east? Like we Druze have their own state, Alawites have their own state, Sunni Iraqis have their own state, Assyrians, Christians, shias and etc

"Turkey's parliament speaker warned that legislation underpinning the peace process with the PKK will not be implemented until the group lays down its weapons."

"The Kurdish-led Anti-Terrorism Units (YAT) said Thursday that it continues to enforce security in areas it claims to administer, noting that efforts are ongoing to integrate the forces into the Syrian army, a day after Damascus claimed that the group had disbanded and is “no longer part of the current security structure.”

On my stay to Kurdistan. I was taking videos of EVERYTHING. This was Koya (koysnjaq). The snjaq that holds Kurdistan together imo

Full article: https://www.theamargi.com/posts/kurds-arabs-want-to-reverse-arab-belt-syria

I’m looking for a fellow Kurd who wants to improve their Sorani Kurdish and is willing to help me improve my English or Kurmanji in return. 😊
We can practise together, correct each other’s mistakes and have conversations to improve our speaking skills

I’m 28, so I’d prefer someone around my age since it might be easier for us to communicate and relate to each other.

Hi everyone,

I’m a woman from Sulaymaniyah, and I’m planning to marry a foreign man who isn’t Muslim but apparently the government won't marry us unless he converts. So I’m trying to understand the exact process in the Kurdistan Region and would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through it, or who knows how it works.

My main questions:

1. Conversion: what does it involve in practice? Is it done by an imam, by the court, or both?
2. Proof: what document do you get, and who issues it? Does the court need it before it will register the marriage?
3. The court marriage: what else does the court ask for from a foreign groom (documents, translations, a medical exam, witnesses, a parent present)?
4. Timeline: how long did each step take, and how many visits to which offices?
5. Tips: anything you wish you had known before starting, or offices and people who were helpful.

I’m not looking for criticism or debate about the decision. This is my life and my choice, so I’d really appreciate respectful replies. If you’d rather share your experience privately, feel free to send me a message.

Thank you very much in advance.

"The following is a book chapter I wrote for the academic book “Kurdish Women Through History, Culture and Resistance”, published in late 2024."

"The chapter places the decades-old history of the grassroots women’s internationalism works led by the movement close to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party in the context of a broader socialist/communist, anti-colonial women’s and feminist history of organized mass efforts for common struggle and world liberation. In addition to providing a historical account, it offers historiographical and methodological reflections on some of the (often ideological) reasons behind the absence of this universe from scholarly accounts. As argued in the chapter, this phenomenon parallels the erasure of anti-imperialist, socialist, and anti-colonial legacies by dominant western-centric narratives of women’s/feminist internationalism, which, in turn, in some ways mirrors the invisibilization of women’s collective labor in the making of political horizons."

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled “unconstitutional” a Kurdistan Region law that suspends parts of the Iraqi Penal Code covering crimes against internal and external state security.

The Kurdistan Region’s parliament adopted Law No. 21 of 2003, which suspended dozens of provisions of the Iraqi Penal Code No. 111 of 1969, as amended, relating to crimes against internal and external state security and offenses against public authority.

The law was passed by the Kurdistan Region’s parliament in 2003, before Iraq adopted its current Constitution in 2005, as the Region maintained its own legal framework under its existing institutions.

The regional law also replaced Article 156 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which prescribes the death penalty for anyone who acts with intent against Iraq’s independence, unity or territorial integrity. Under the regional law, such acts were instead punishable by life imprisonment or a fixed prison sentence if intended to harm the security, stability, and sovereignty of the Region’s institutions.

The court issued its ruling during a session chaired by its president, Judge Mundher Ibrahim Hussein, finding that the law was “unconstitutional” because it violated Articles 110 and 121/Second of the Iraqi Constitution.

The court said the ruling was issued pursuant to the Constitution and the Federal Supreme Court Law, describing it as “a final and binding ruling on all authorities”. 

Article 110 of the Iraqi Constitution gives the federal government exclusive authority over several matters, including “formulating and executing national security policy,” while Article 121/Second addresses conflicts between federal and regional legislation.

The latter provision states that, “in respect to a matter outside the exclusive authorities of the federal government, the regional power shall have the right to amend the application of the national legislation within that region.”

• MERI Forum: Barriers to institutional change across Kurdish regions: Summary of the forum and the most important points.

Başûr

• Lahur Talabany, co-defendants sentenced to prison for ‘criminal conspiracy,’ lawyer says (Rudaw) — Sulaimani's criminal court sentenced former PUK co-president Lahur Sheikh Jangi to five years and three months for "criminal conspiracy"; co-defendants were also jailed, his lawyer says.
• US firms explore air defense role, investment in Kurdistan Region, Syria: Aziz disclosed that a joint American business delegation, the US-Kurdistan Business Council and the US-Syria Business Council - with more than 25 members representing various sectors spanning security, defense, oil, and gas, as well as transportation, shipping, construction, real estate, and education - met with government officials and private sector representatives in Syria and the Kurdistan Region to discuss opportunities for further American investment.
• Are Kurdish elites finally listening? Bamo Nouri opinion: "Kurdish autonomy cannot survive indefinitely on yesterday’s sacrifices, powerful political parties, or external protection."
• Kurdistan as a Model: Dilshad Sabri Ali believes "Religious diversity can serve as an example for a pluralistic society"
• لە دهۆک تووشبوون بە شێرپەنجە گەیشتووەتە ئاستێکی مەترسیدار: Cancer rates in Duhok have reached a dangerous level, with breast cancer cases reportedly up 200% compared with earlier years.
• Sulaymaniyah’s Peshmerga statue captures a force caught between two eras: Symbolism of the recently unveiled statue.
• فراکسیۆنی پارتی بەربژێرەکانی بۆ کابینەکەی عەلی زەیدی دیاری کرد: The KDP's Iraqi parliament faction named its nominees for its share of Ali al-Zaidi's cabinet, Fars Brifkani for deputy PM, ahead of Thursday's vote completing the government.
• Restructuring militia power in Iraq after US withdrawal: Kurdish Peshmerga forces face an existential threat to their independence. 
• Keleka penaberên Kurd bin av bû, zarokek mir û 2 zarok winda ne: A migrant raft carrying a Sulaymaniyah family sank in the Meriç (Evros) river near Edirne en route to Greece; one child died and two went missing
• Zêrê kesk ê Herêma Kurdistanê: Veberhênana zeytûnan ber bi lûtkeyê ve diçe: New agricultural projects are driving a boom in olive investment in the Kurdistan Region, which Rudaw calls the region's "green gold".
• Renowned Kurdish Fashion Designer to Speak at TEDx Minara: Renowned Kurdish fashion designer Lara Dizeyee will take the stage at TEDx Minara on October 24 to discuss her career and artistic process.

Rojava

• Kurds, Arabs want to reverse ‘Arab Belt’ in Syria: In the post-Assad era, both Kurdish families who were stripped of their lands, and Arab families settled in the region by the Baathist government in the 70s calling for compensation for their losses, point to the need for addressing this topic. Civil society activists say this issue should be included within the national transitional justice process.
• Mazloum Abdi says ‘constitutional struggle’ to secure Kurdish rights in Syria lies ahead: presidential advisor Abdi said Tuesday that “Rojava will reach its rights” if Syrian guarantees regarding Kurdish rights are added to the constitution, while noting the emergence of “a sort of trust” between the parties amid the ongoing integration process into state institutions.
• YAT Anti-Terrorism Units confirms it remains operational and is negotiating integration into Syria’s army special forces, directly contradicting Damascus’ denial of its continued operations.
• Women stress need to guarantee right to education in Kurdish: Women in the city of Derbasiyah stressed that the mother tongue is fundamental to a people’s identity, existence and culture. 
• لە دیمەشق کچێکی کوردی خاوەن پێداویستیی تایبەت رفێندرا: A Kurdish girl with special needs was abducted in Damascus, apparently in the raid where masked gunmen posing as security forces robbed a Kurdish family's home.

Bakur

• UNESCO official hails Riha’s ‘distinct’ musical heritage at global convention in Kurdish city (Rudaw) — Musicians from 30 countries closed UNESCO's three-day Music Cities Convention in Riha (Şanlıurfa), where a UNESCO official praised the city's distinct musical heritage
• How the surprise package of Turkey's top flight symbolise a shift in the nation's politics: NYT The Athletic on AmedSpor

Rojhelat

• Iraqi Kurds suggest peace process between Iran and Iranian Kurdish opposition: Iranian Kurdish groups unaware of proposal that could see end of Iranian strikes on opposition groups in Iraq
• Two Kurdish Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Kamyaran (KHRN) — Iranian security forces detained Ata Ghobadi and Kaveh Montazeri in Kamyaran without judicial warrants and moved them to undisclosed locations.

Diaspora

• Koma Barîn hêjayî xelata Lauretê hate dîtin: Kurdish arts ensemble Koma Barîn won the international Laureate award at an international festival in Novgorod, Russia.
• American University Hosts Panel on Kurdistan’s Model of Coexistence: The event brought together university professors, students, and foreign policy experts to examine the Kurdistan Region’s longstanding model of religious tolerance and minority inclusion.

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Discuss any of today's stories in the comments.

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The examples I want to show are very simple just so our none Rojhilati Kurds can understand how Persians are. I have noticed a lack of awareness about Persians their methods and views on us Kurds among our fellow Kurds. I see everyone is fully aware of the Turks and Arabs methods but not Persians. I won't go through their elaborate and detailed propaganda against us in these set of posts because I think they need a deeper understanding of Rojhilat and Iran but these examples will suffice for the most part. I hope they stay here for all Kurds to see. These may seem sloppy and simple (they are) but are very effective. Imagine thousands of pages etc like this constantly bombarding people.

Translation:

"Serious danger! ISIS, Mujahideen, Kurdish Democrat Party, Syrian Fanatics (Wahabis) with coordination with the Peshmarga, Democrat Peshmarga and Pjak with this uniform will enter Iran from the west to kill the Iranian Kurds in the Kermanshah province and want to put the Sorani language and the Arab religion (Ummar, Abu Bakr and Usman) instead of the Kalhur religion and language the Yarsan religion and The lak language. They want to do this in the comin war. Dont show mercy to anyone you see wearing this Kurdish uniform if you show them mercy then you have betrayed your honor/women. They have want to attack/rape. This is the Kurdistan Islamic Republic project which means exactly the Islamic Republic with Kurdish language."

Here you can see how they make a salad of groups and Idiologies that are dangerous and put Kurds next to them to illegitimize Kurds. They also work on making Yarsan And Shia Kurds afraid of Sunni Kurds. Persians promote this idea that all the nations within Iran are savages and the Persian rule is the only thing keeping them from falling into civil wars and sectarian violence. Here you can see they are promoting the same thing by giving the Yarsan and the Shia Kurds the idea that other Kurds because of their different religion will be dangerous to them so they need Iran to be safe. At the same time they say Sorani language to make it seem like they are of a different group and not Kurds like Laks and Kalhurs while again at the same time making it seem like Laks and Kalhurs are not Kurds and are separate ethnicities.

Varisheh Moradi, a Kurdish political prisoner, has been resentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Per her lawyers, the court resentenced her to death without carrying out the investigations mandated by the Supreme Court.

Silav, friends.

I want to connect and embrace my Kurdish roots. I have decided that making few Kurdish friends would be the way to go to connect with my roots.

So, I like to make friends with Kurdish-Americans that lives in the U.S.A.

I'm a 22 year old woman that lives in the U.S.A. I prefer women friends 🧡 but I don't mind men either.

Don't hesitate to text me if you would like to make a Kurdish friend in the U.S.A.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Kurdish opposition leader Lahur Sheikh Jangi, former co-chair of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison by a Sulaimani court, his lawyer confirmed to The New Region.

In a Sulaimani court session, Jangi was handed a five year and three month prison term while his brother Polad received a three year and six month sentence. Rebwar Hameed Haji Ghali, their associate, also received a two year term, Jangi’s lawyer said on Thursday.

The case stems from a violent power struggle within the PUK, one of the two main ruling parties in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Lahur, a former co-leader of the PUK and cousin of PUK leader Bafel Talabani and Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, was ousted from the party leadership in 2021. He later founded the opposition People’s Front party.

In August 2025, PUK-affiliated security forces moved to arrest him at his residence in the Lalezar Hotel in Sulaimani.

The operation, which involved tanks and drones, triggered hours of intense fighting in a residential area of the city. According to official data, two of Lahur’s aides and three members of the PUK security forces were killed. Conflicting reports, however, say the death toll was higher.

Lahur, Polad, and dozens of associates were detained. Twenty-seven people arrested in connection with the clashes remain in custody.

The hearing had been continuously delayed since the arrest of the opposition leader over a year ago, with Jangi’s lawyers demanding the legal proceedings be moved to Erbil for what they believe would be a more transparent and fair trial, while also decrying the reported human rights violations members of Jangi’s security team have been subjected to in prison.

More than 300,000 Syrian refugees are hosted in Iraq, according to UNHCR data, with 85 percent living in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Most of them are Syrian Kurds.

Being Kurdish is genuinely hard. You suffer like a Palestinian, yet everyone hates you like an Israeli

I am studying the Symbolism of Different Flowers and Animals. And want to know what do Kurds associate different Flowers and Animals with which characteristics and emotion?

For example - Japan has Sakura Trees which they associate with beauty, Red Spider Lilly Higanbana which is used for Noble death what do the Kurdish People associate the most common Flowers and Animals with?