One Kolbar Killed, Two Injured in Direct Shooting 

On September 16, 2022, the military forces killed a kolbar (cross-border carrier of goods) and injured two others in a  direct shooting incident at the Nowsud border area In Kurdistan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on September 16, 2022, the Iranian military shot a kolbar identified as Esmail Abdi, 32 at the border area. Two other kolbars identified as Mokhtar Fattahi, 36, and Hamid Ahmadi were seriously injured.

According to an informed source, Ahmadi was injured in the neck and Fattahi in the arm and both were hospitalized in Kermanshah. Abdi’s body has not yet been delivered to his family.

Two Landmine Blasts Severely Injure Four Kolbars

On Monday, February 22, a landmine remnant from the Iran-Iraq War exploded in a border area and injured three Kolbars (cross border carriers). On the same day, another mine blast injured a Kolbar in the Nowsud border area.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, On Monday, February 22, 2022, the Kolbars were injured by a landmine blast in the border area of Hangazhall, located in Baneh County.

The injured Kolbars were identified as Foad Bitooshi, Kianoosh Raofi and Amanj (last name unidentified). Currently, all three are hospitalized.

Additionally, in another accident, a Kolbar identified as Mirabdoli in the Nowsud border area, located in Paweh County, was injured by a landmine blast.

Every year, landmine explosions take several victims in  Iran’s border areas. There are about 42,000 square kilometres of war zones in Iran that have not yet been fully demined from the Iran-Iraq war.

In flagrant violation of international conventions, the regime is still using these landmines to secure its borders.

Accordingly, there are still thousands of landmines planted in Iran in the border areas with Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. The regime also planted many landmines during the conflicts of the 1980s in Kurdistan.

Kolbar Injured from Landmine Explosion in Nowsud Border Area

On Thursday, May 6th, a kolbar was injured in the leg after a landmine left over from the Iran-Iraq war exploded in the border area of Nowsud.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, the citizen has been identified as Nader Saberi, son of Mr. Barakhas, from Tilkuh village in Kamyaran.

Every year, landmines cause the death and injury of several compatriots in border areas. About 42,000 square kilometers of land in Iran is contaminated with leftover landmines and unexploded ordnance from the Iran-Iraq war.

The Iranian regime continues to produce and plant anti-personnel mines, and, contrary to international conventions, the regime believes that using these mines is the only effective way to secure the country’s long borders.

Accordingly, they have planted mines on border areas with Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. During the conflicts of the 1980s in Kurdistan, mines were planted in this region, as well.