The regime's military manoeuvre blunders in Kurdistan

Iran Press News: Translation by Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi

Friday, Sept. 30th concluded the 3-day military manoeuvres conducted by the Basij and Revolutionary Guards in the town of Marivaan (Province of Kurdistan). These maneuvers took place around Zaribaar Lake where bunkers from the 8-year-old Iran/Iraq war still stand.

For days leading up to the beginning of the maneuvers, squadron leaders and regime's authorities in Marivaan had bragged about the 20,000 strong Basiji presence in the "war games", however in spite of all the pressure to compel civil servants, high school students and the general public to participate, only 1400 people showed up. This was an indication of yet another of the regimes failed plans in Kurdistan.

During the 3 day maneuvers fights broke out among the Basiji over food and snacks which were stolen; also among the stolen items were several red cross/red crescent tents. Comically, a large number of the Basijis acted as monitors to prevent the participants from actually running away.

There were also smaller versions of the war games played out around the town of Baaneh that was ridiculed and taunted by the locals.