ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iran has launched a five-day joint counterterrorism exercise in the country’s predominantly-Kurdish northwest while unveiling the “Sahand” destroyer and the “Kordestan” naval base in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, amid Tehran’s ongoing operations against Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups.

The joint counterterrorism “Sahand” exercise, organized under the foreign ministry’s counterterrorism executive committee and in cooperation with Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries, will be held for five days in the northwest of the country, starting from East Azerbaijan province.

Esmael Baghaei, foreign ministry spokesperson, said during a weekly presser on Monday that the operation “is aimed at combating terrorism,” and demonstrates the “commitment and importance” Iran places on coordinated and multilateral efforts to “confront terrorism.”

Iran routinely targets and clashes with Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups in the northwest of the country.

The groups, namely the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), Komala, the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), are based in the Kurdistan Region and designated “terrorists” by Tehran. 

Iran has frequently carried out cross-border attacks into the Kurdistan Region to target the groups, which seek greater rights for Iran’s Kurdish population and have engaged in an on-and-off conflict with the Islamic republic for decades. 

On Saturday, Iran unveiled the induction of two naval bases, “Kordestan” and the destroyer “Sahand,” in Bandar Abbas, a major port city in southern Iran on the Strait of Hormuz. 

The unveiling ceremony included the induction of fast missile boats, multi-purpose unmanned aerial units, unmanned smart submersibles, and coastal- and sea-based electronic warfare, missile, and intelligence systems into the Navy, in addition to the “Sahand” destroyer and the “Kordestan” naval base.

The “Sahand”, recently reintroduced after sinking at Bandar Abbas dock in July, 2024, is a multi-purpose combat vessel capable of medical, communications, helicopter, underwater, and rapid relief operations, as well as delivering food, fuel, and medicine.

The “Kordestan” base can provide key support to naval combat units at sea and to anyone in need of assistance.

Army Navy Commander Shahram Irani described the “Sahand” as “a multi-purpose combat vessel equipped with modern systems in various fields,” which is “ready to operate in distant waters and the deep oceans.”