Credited from: INDIATIMES
In recent days, Iranian Kurdish militias have engaged in discussions with the United States regarding the execution of military operations targeting Iran’s security forces, particularly in the western regions of the country. This collaboration seeks to enhance the Kurdish groups’ capabilities to weaken Iran's military amidst ongoing US-Israeli strikes against Iranian targets. A key objective is to potentially create conditions favorable for uprisings against the Iranian regime, especially following the deaths of top officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, due to recent military actions. However, a final decision on the operation's specifics has yet to be made, according to reports from SCMP, India Times, and Reuters.
Reports indicate that the CIA is involved in planning to arm Kurdish forces, signifying a strategic shift aimed at sparking a popular uprising in Iran. The discussions have included options for military support, contingent on cooperation from Iraqi Kurdish authorities for logistics and staging operations within Iraq. Kurdish groups have voiced their intention to engage Iranian security forces to distract them from urban centers, allowing civilian protesters to mobilize with reduced risk of violent repression. Notably, a senior Kurdish official expressed optimism, stating, “We believe we have a big chance now,” emphasizing expected support from the US and Israel amid escalating conflicts. This sentiment is further supported by information from India Times and Reuters.
The Kurdish armed groups, operating from bases within Iraq's Kurdistan region, claim to have thousands of fighters positioned along the Iraq-Iran border. This potential operation could strain Iranian military resources by opening a new front, and it raises concerns about regional stability, particularly regarding the reactions from neighboring countries such as Turkey and Pakistan. Observers warn that such military engagement could aggravate separatist movements among Iran's ethnic Baluch minority and may complicate Turkey's ongoing peace efforts with Kurdish factions. The necessity for robust US military and intelligence support for any operation from Iraq highlights the complexities involved in this scenario, as noted by sources from SCMP, India Times, and Reuters.