Iranian Forces Capture Mahabad

          IRANIAN FORCES CAPTURED the
          Kurdish stronghold of Mababad.
          The rebel troops streamed out of the city
          under heavy attack from two sides by army
          troops backed by tanks, tighter planes and
          helicopter gunships, Hundreds of civilians
          carrying their belongings also left the city In
          northwest Iran. There were no reports on
          casualties,
          Fighting continued on the outskirts of
          Mahabad as government forces attempted
          to block the Kurds' exodus into the moun
          talus near the Iraqi border ‘We shall be
          your guests every night.” the Kurds chanted
          as they withdrew, threatening a protracted
          guerrilla war.
          With the army's takeover in Maha
          bad, Banek appeared to be the govern
          meat's twit target. The loss is seen as a
          crippling one for the Kurds, who had
          pinned niuch of their hopes for success
          on holding the city