Iran’s Ahvaz In Flames: Youth Defy Live Ammo And Drones In Anti-Regime Protests – OpEd
Despite the Iranian regime’s desperate attempts to conceal the scale of the nationwide uprising through severe internet blackouts and censorship, reports continue to leak out, revealing a volatile society determined to overthrow the religious dictatorship. New field reports obtained from Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan province, detail two weeks of intense confrontations in early January 2026, showing that the rebellious youth are holding their ground against heavily armed suppression forces, burning symbols of the regime, and forcing security units to retreat.
From economic grievances to nationwide revolution
The current wave of protests, which erupted on December 28, 2025, initially began as an economic stoppage by bazaari shopkeepers in central Tehran outraged by the rial’s sharp plunge and price spikes. However, the unrest quickly expanded geographically to hundreds of locations and shifted socially to include universities and wider strike activity. Slogans rapidly transitioned from livelihood grievances to explicit anti-regime rhetoric targeting the entire governing system. While Tehran was the spark, the fire has spread to every corner of the country, with Ahvaz emerging as a major battlefield.
Burning the Governor’s office and blocking streets
According to reports from Ahvaz, the intensity of the uprising reached a new peak on December 31, 2025. Following a massive demonstration and clashes with regime agents, the angry crowds set fire to the city’s Governor’s office, a primary symbol of state authority.
By Tuesday, January 6, 2026, the tactics of the protesters had evolved into organized urban confrontation. Rebellious youth engaged in hit-and-run battles with suppressive forces in various districts, setting fires to block streets and hamper the movement of security vehicles. This momentum carried into Wednesday, January 7, when shopkeepers in the Grand Bazaar of Ahvaz joined the uprising. Amidst chants of “Proud bazaari, support us, support us” and “Close them, close them,” the market was shut down, signaling a unified front between the rebellious youth and the merchants.
The regime’s retreat and the use of drones
The conflict escalated significantly between January 8 and January 9 (18-19 Dey). In the Naderi district, mercenaries fired tear gas at protesters, while in the Golestan district, continuous gunfire was used to prevent the youth from approaching the regime’s Intelligence Office.
On Saturday, January 10 (20 Dey), despite brutal repression, a massive demonstration formed. Rebellious youth in the Zeytoun Karmandi and market center areas clashed with the regime’s forces, eventually forcing the State Security Forces (SSF) to retreat to the Kuy-e Saadi intersection. In a display of fear and weakness, the regime deployed unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to monitor the situation as their ground forces lost control.
The defining moment of the day was the thunderous chant of “The people want the fall of the regime,” echoing through the streets. During these clashes, rebellious youth set fire to three banks. The regime responded with lethal force; mercenaries fired on the retreating crowds, resulting in two martyrs.
War bullets and concrete barriers
As the uprising persisted into the second week of January, the regime turned Ahvaz into a militarized zone. On January 11 and 12 , authorities installed concrete barriers in streets like Naderi, 24-Metri, and the Abdol-Hamid market to block the advance of the youth. Nightly protests continued with severe clashes.
On Tuesday, January 13, the regime’s thugs launched a vicious attack on night protests in the Golestan, Saadi, and Goldasteh districts. Reports confirm that regime forces targeted unarmed civilians with both military-grade live ammunition and pellets. This criminal crackdown resulted in a number of martyrs and a high number of wounded protesters, yet the resistance of the Ahvazi youth continues to shake the pillars of the religious dictatorship.