Tehran forces flood cities at the heart of rebellion

Iranian security forces are storming rebellious cities in the restive north of the country, the focal point of the most serious protests against the regime for more than a decade. Videos showed helicopters and military vehicles pouring into the town of Mahabad, where protesters had in effect taken over after the funerals of those killed in the clashes. Streets were thick with tear gas and shots could be heard, as well as screams. ‘‘In Mahabad’s residential areas there is a lot of gunfire,’’ Hengaw, a Kurdish rights group based in Norway, said.