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Iranian military targets Kurdish groups in northern Iraq
Iran's armed forces have intensified operations against Iranian Kurdish factions based in Iraq, deploying missiles to strike their headquarters. The attacks, carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday, resulted in one fatality and three injuries, according to confirmed reports.
Casualties and damage reported
One of the strikes, executed with a ballistic missile at approximately 11:00 local time (08:00 GMT) on Wednesday, hit a base belonging to Kurdish Peshmerga forces. Four fighters were wounded, and one later succumbed to his injuries. The BBC observed extensive destruction at the site, including collapsed structures and a large crater left by the missile.
A separate drone attack on Tuesday targeted a base operated by the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), injuring a civilian. The aftermath revealed significant damage to the facility.
Kurdish leaders deny plans to enter Iran
Leaders of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in Iraq have dismissed reports suggesting their forces are preparing to cross into Iran. Hanna Hussein Yazdan Pana, a representative of the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), stated that no Peshmerga fighters had moved and emphasized the need for coordinated action.
"We cannot advance if the airspace above us remains contested. We require the destruction of Iran's weapons depots to proceed safely," Pana told the BBC. She also called for a no-fly zone to protect Kurdish forces, describing their current arsenal as limited to basic weaponry like Kalashnikov rifles.
Speculation over US involvement
There has been growing conjecture that the United States, under President Donald Trump, is exploring the possibility of enlisting Kurdish forces to counter Iran. However, the White House has denied reports that it is considering arming these groups.
A senior KDPI leader indicated that Kurdish forces might soon engage in conflict within Iran but did not provide a specific timeline. He declined to comment on alleged recent communications between Trump and KDPI leadership.
Hassan, a 25-year-old fighter armed with an AK-47, expressed readiness to fight in Iran, stating, "We are closer than ever."
Regional dynamics and expert analysis
Sir Simon Gass, former British ambassador to Tehran, described Iran as a diverse nation with a Persian majority and significant ethnic minorities, including Kurds, Balochs, Arabs, and Azeris. He suggested that any effort by the US or Israel to incite armed resistance among these groups would pose a severe challenge to the Iranian regime.
"Under normal circumstances, lightly armed Kurdish fighters would struggle against Iran's military. However, with external support-such as special forces and air cover-they could present a formidable threat," Gass told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Historical context of Kurdish struggles
Kurds, numbering over 30 million, inhabit a region spanning Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Armenia. Despite being the fourth-largest ethnic group in the Middle East, they lack a permanent nation-state. In Iran, Kurds constitute about 10% of the population, primarily Sunni Muslims residing in the northwest.
Amnesty International has documented systemic discrimination against Iranian Kurds, citing repression of their social, political, and cultural rights, as well as economic marginalization.
