Iranian civilians and young conscripts in Iran’s south have accused the regime of abandoning them and even using them as human shields, as US attacks on the oil-rich region continue on military bases, energy facilities and major ports.
Despite the increasing dangers from US missiles, schools and work places remain open and troops have been confined to their barracks, the target of many of the strikes, while their officers have fled to the safety of their homes.
A flood of images and eyewitness reports from southern Iran shows that the major military and oil centres of Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Bandar Khamir, Sirik, Jask, Hajiabad, Kish and Abu Musa have been targeted, along with areas in Ahvaz, Shadegan, Hamidiyeh, Mahshahr, Bandar Imam Khomeini, Omidiyeh, Behbahan, Dezful and Darkhovin.
Ali, a conscript stationed in Ahvaz, told The Australian: “Commanders and senior personnel go home during the nights of the attacks, but they keep the conscripts inside the barracks despite our protests and assign us even more guard duties.
“We have nothing but Kalashnikovs. We cannot stop missiles with rifles. Our families are terrified. We want to leave the barracks, but we could be arrested and imprisoned – or worse, executed on charges of treason during wartime.”
Young soldiers told the same story to Iran International, accusing their military commanders of staying away from their bases “while solders are still forced to stay in post.”
In a post on Instagram, Iran International reported: ”Despite the critical circumstances, (soldiers) are still being held in barracks or service sites. According to these people, commanders have refused to be directly present in certain situations and soldiers feel they were being used as “human shield.”
State media has largely refused to cover the war, instead seeking to portray the country as operating normally,
However in a horrifying twist, Mohammad Akraminia, spokesperson for the Islamic Republic’s army, said in a state-televised interview: “ If US forces entered Iranian territory, the army would fire missiles at its own territory and at areas under occupation,” calling the move “the logic of war.”
The intention was clear – the regime is prepared to kill its civilians to preserve its power.
Meanwhile, in Bandar Abbas and other southern cities, power cuts in temperatures reaching 55C have created a new crisis, while residents also report water cuts, internet disruptions, job losses and fuel queues stretching for several kilometres. A child has reportedly died from the heat, although officials have released no details. Reports of another possible internet shutdown have intensified fears of a widening information blackout across the region.
All together now - allahu akhbar. Tsk, tsk
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