Round-up of #IranProtests Day 12:**Glimpses of the Flames of the Iranian People’s Uprising and Nationwide Clashes by Youth and Resistance Fighters**
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Live report | Thursday, January 8, 2026
The nationwide uprising against the religious dictatorship in Iran has entered its twelfth day on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Sparked on December 28, 2025, by the collapse of the rial and soaring inflation, the movement has rapidly evolved from economic grievances into a full-scale revolution seeking the overthrow of the regime.
Following a historic eleventh day, the uprising has shown no signs of abating. On Thursday, the scope of dissent broadened significantly with general strikes gripping major commercial centers across the country, while the regime’s brutality reached new heights in western Iran.
Day 12 Roundup: 8 martyrs in Lordegan; Regime deploys foreign mercenaries in Kermanshah; Strikes paralyze Kurdistan
On Thursday, January 8, 2026, the uprising faced a violent turning point in the city of Lordegan, where regime forces used lethal force against demonstrators. Simultaneously, a wave of strikes has shut down economic activity in dozens of cities, while street confrontations have escalated into the night with reports of regime buildings being torched and foreign mercenaries being deployed to suppress the people.
Key highlights from today include:
Massacre and Resistance in Lordegan: In a brutal crackdown, security forces murdered eight protesters in Lordegan. In acts of self-defense, the youth clashed with the suppressive forces, resulting in the death of a regime colonel and two Basij agents.
Foreign Mercenaries in Kermanshah: As protests intensified in Kermanshah with heavy clashes and live fire, reports indicate the regime has deployed Arabic-speaking members of Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi to aid the IRGC, signaling the regime’s desperation.
Forces Flee: In the Dolatabad district of Kermanshah, security forces were forced to flee in the face of a massive crowd of demonstrators.
Government Buildings Torched: In Lumar (Ilam province), protesters escalated their resistance by setting fire to regime buildings after facing suppression.
Kurdistan on Strike: A widespread general strike has paralyzed the Kurdistan province and surrounding areas, with shops closed in Sanandaj, Marivan, Mahabad, and Paveh.
Commercial Shutdowns: The historic Bazaar of Tabriz remained on strike for the second consecutive day. Markets in Bandar Abbas, Ilam, Neyshabur, and Sabzevar also joined the nationwide boycott.
Nationwide Clashes: From Qazvin to Kerman, Hameda, and Gilan-e Gharb, protesters have set up roadblocks and clashed with security forces throughout the day and into the night.
Update—18:30 CET
Kermanshah: Regime deploys Hashd al-Shaabi mercenaries; Forces flee in Dolatabad
As night fell on the twelfth day of the uprising, Kermanshah (western Iran) became a primary flashpoint of conflict. Protests have erupted across multiple districts, including Dareh Deraz, Maskan, and Dolatabad.
In the Dareh Deraz district, heavy clashes are underway between protesters and security forces. The regime’s agents are reportedly using live ammunition to quell the demonstrations, yet the people continue to resist, chanting “Down with Khamenei!” and setting up roadblocks.
In a sign of the regime’s crumbling morale and lack of manpower, local reports confirm that members of Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi (PMF), speaking Arabic, have been spotted participating in the suppression alongside the IRGC. This reliance on foreign proxies indicates the regime’s growing desperation in confronting the nationwide uprising.
Despite this brutality, the people are pushing back. In the Dolatabad district, the sheer size of the anti-regime demonstration forced the regime’s security forces to flee the scene. In the Maskan district, nightly rallies continue despite a heavy security presence.
Lumar and Gilan-e Gharb: Regime buildings torched and roadblocks set
In Lumar (Ilam province), the confrontation has escalated significantly. During protests today, demonstrators fiercely resisted the regime’s security forces and set fire to regime buildings, signaling a radicalization of the protests in response to the crackdown.
Similarly, in Gilan-e Gharb (western Iran), nightly protests have resumed with intensity. The youth have set up roadblocks to hamper the movement of repressive forces and are chanting “Down with Khamenei!” while engaging in resistance against armed agents.
Qazvin and Kerman: Clashes and barricades
In Qazvin (northwest Iran), the unrest continues as people held anti-regime rallies at Palestine Street. Security forces were dispatched to the area to suppress the demonstration, leading to clashes between the people and the agents.
In Kerman (southeast Iran), a large crowd gathered for an anti-regime protest rally. Demonstrators have set up roadblocks to protect their gathering and resist the regime’s forces.
Protests spread to Isfahan and Hamedan
The geographical scope of the uprising continues to widen. In Pirbakran (Isfahan province), people have poured into the streets to initiate anti-regime protests. Meanwhile, in Hamedan (western Iran), following the morning strikes, large crowds took to the streets to hold protest rallies, defying the atmosphere of repression.
Update—11:00 CET
Lordegan: Regime commits massacre; Protesters block roads in self-defense
In the city of Lordegan (western Iran), the uprising has turned into a bloody confrontation. According to local reports from the PMOI network inside Iran, security forces launched a widespread crackdown on rallies that had continued from the previous night into the early morning. Protesters fiercely resisted the regime’s repressive machinery.
During these heavy clashes, regime forces opened fire, resulting in the martyrdom of eight protesters. However, the rebellious youth stood their ground in self-defense; reports indicate that a regime colonel and two Basij agents were killed during the street battles. To prevent the regime from dispatching reinforcements to the city, brave protesters have blocked the Ahvaz road.
General strikes paralyze Kurdistan and Western Iran
A massive wave of strikes has swept across western Iran, particularly in the Kurdistan province. Reports from the early hours of Thursday indicate a total shutdown in Sanandaj (Saneh), the provincial capital. Video footage from the city confirms that the markets are empty and shops are shuttered.
The strike has spread to numerous other cities, including:
Divandarreh, Marivan, and Baneh: Full strikes reported.
Mahabad and Paveh: Shop owners have refused to open their businesses, joining the 12th day of the uprising.
Sarpol-e Zahab and Ravansar: Markets are completely closed.
Tabriz, Bandar Abbas, and Ilam join the nationwide boycott
The commercial strike is not limited to the west. In Tabriz (northwest Iran), the historic covered bazaar remains on strike for the second consecutive day, signaling a deepening rift between the traditional merchants and the regime.
In Bandar Abbas (southern Iran), a complete strike has been reported today. Similarly, in the city of Ilam, the shutdown is widespread, with merchants and shopkeepers uniformly joining the nationwide movement. Reports also confirm that shopkeepers in Sabzevar, Neyshabur, and Fardis have joined the strikes.
Rallies in Lumar and Hamedan: “Mullahs must get lost!”
While bazaars remain closed, people have taken to the streets in several cities. In Lumar (Ilam province), a huge crowd gathered this morning to mark the twelfth day of the uprising. The protesters were heard chanting the slogan, “Mullahs must get lost!” rejecting the entirety of the theocratic rule.
In Hamedan, citizens gathered in Ekbatan Street, initiating protest rallies and demonstrating that the suppression in other cities has failed to silence the public’s demand for freedom.
