The Kurdish forces operating on the Iran-Iraq border are considered one of the most prominent armed opposition groups fighting the Tehran regime.
Israeli and U.S. officials confirmed that hundreds of Kurdish fighters have begun conducting ground operations in Iran from areas near the Iraqi border jerusalem post Wednesday’s developments could open a new front against Tehran as regional tensions continue to rise.
The Kurdish forces operating on the Iran-Iraq border are considered one of the most prominent armed opposition groups fighting the Tehran regime. The group in question is an Iranian Kurdish group with thousands of fighters, most of whom operate from territory in the Kurdistan region of Iraq that borders Iran.
According to Kurdish sources, the forces have been preparing to take part in ground operations in western Iran in recent days with the aim of putting pressure on Iranian security forces and spreading them across multiple areas.
Sources said the strategic concept behind the event is that fighting on the border would force the Iranian regime to move military and security resources there, potentially easing pressure on protesters and opposition elements in major cities inside Iran.
A senior Kurdish source said late Tuesday that “there is now a significant opportunity” in their assessment, citing the current heavy military pressure on Iran and attacks on regime infrastructure.
This handout image obtained on February 16, 2026, shows members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) participating in an exercise in southern Iran. (Image source: IRGC/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Reuters Handout)
The Trump administration has reportedly had contacts and discussions with Kurdish figures in recent days, including conversations between President Donald Trump and Iraqi Kurdish leaders and Iranian Kurdish opposition leaders.
The discussion focused on the possibility of business cooperation. In this case, Kurdish forces may become a ground force that destabilizes the Iranian regime in certain areas.
According to people familiar with the matter, Kurdish forces anticipate that the United States and Israel may support such activities.
This support can take many forms, primarily intelligence sharing, military assistance, and the creation of operational conditions that enable Kurdish fighters to fight inside Iran.
However, Kurdish forces themselves do not possess the military capabilities needed to overthrow the Iranian regime, according to assessments cited by sources.
In addition, there are differences among Kurdish organizations, with different ideologies and strategic interests.
Any wider action will also depend on the cooperation of the leadership of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, particularly regarding the use of territory and the transport of weapons across borders.
The ground operation began as Israel’s small cabinet held a security review.
White House discusses arming Kurdish militias, denies action
During a briefing with reporters, White House press secretary Carolyn Levitt addressed reports that the Trump administration is considering arming Kurdish forces to spark an uprising in Iran and said the reports were false.
Levitt confirmed that Trump had spoken to the Kurdish leader as part of his ongoing discussions with partners and allies in the Middle East, particularly regarding U.S. military bases in northern Iraq.
However, she stressed that any suggestion that the president approved plans to arm Kurdish forces against Iran was incorrect and had “no basis in fact,” according to the briefing.
Officials deny this, saying no Kurds have crossed the border
Kurdistan’s prime minister’s deputy chief of staff, Aziz Ahmed, posted on X/Twitter late Wednesday that the claims were “clearly false” and claimed that not a single Iraqi had crossed the border.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also denied the reports, saying they were “aimed at undermining Iran’s security and stability,” according to a report from the IRGC.net.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened that “any infiltration attempts will be met with a severe response.”
According to the Iranian News Agency TasnimAn Iranian security source also refuted the claim, saying “the United States and Israel, after failing to achieve their goals on the ground, are now trying to undermine the spirit of resistance of our people through psychological warfare.”
“We assure the citizens of Ilam governorate that the border with Iraq is safe and protected by the army and security forces,” he said.
according to LudoAn official from the Democratic Party of Kurdistan in Iran (PDKI) also dismissed the reports.
