Iran deploys troops and heavy weapons on Azerbaijan border
The commander of the IRGC Ground Forces announced that units of the IRGC Ground Forces have been deployed to the border strip with the Republic of Azerbaijan to ensure security in the region. Local activists in Azerbaijan reported that the IRGC is continuing to send heavy equipment to the border areas.
Mohammad Pakpour, Commander of the IRGC Ground Forces, told reporters on Sunday, October 25, while in the border areas of East Azerbaijan: "Given the recent clashes between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia in the region, units of the IRGC Ground Forces have been dispatched and deployed to this area."
Pakpour said that the "Ashura Headquarters of the IRGC Ground Forces" has been active in the border area since the first days of the conflict between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia, monitoring and supervising border developments.
The IRGC official emphasized that the territorial integrity of neighboring countries is respected and that "any change in border geopolitics will be a red line for the Islamic Republic of Iran."
The location where the IRGC commander spoke to reporters was the border town of Khoda Afarin, with a population of 35,000. Azerbaijani forces recently succeeded in capturing the Khoda Afarin Bridge, liberating this border area that had been occupied by Armenian forces.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev congratulated the people of Iran and Azerbaijan on the liberation of the border strip.
From the beginning of the Karabakh war until the liberation of these areas, a number of mortar rockets from the conflicting parties had hit Iranian territory. However, after the deployment of Azerbaijani forces along the borders, there have been no reports of mortar or artillery firing, nor drone flights.
The commander of the IRGC Ground Forces has now said that security prevails on the borders and that no danger threatens the country.
Deployment of the IRGC mechanized brigade on the Azerbaijani border
About a month ago, "Sepah News" reported that tanks and military equipment had been deployed to protect people and establish security in the northwestern border strip of the country in the Khoda Afarin and Jolfa regions.
Tasnim News Agency reported, citing Mustafa Mohammadi, that the “Imam Zaman Mechanized Brigade,” which operated under the banner of the 31st Ashura Division, has had an effective presence in the region since the beginning of the crisis in Syria. He also said that a number of members of the brigade were killed in Syria.
Continuing the transfer of IRGC heavy equipment to the border strip
However, numerous news reports have been reported on social media about the continued transfer of heavy weapons by the IRGC to the Iranian border with Azerbaijan.
On Sunday, November 25, media activist Tohid Javadi posted a video on Twitter of the continued transfer of heavy equipment from the IRGC to the border of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Source: DW
