The leader of an Iranian Kurdish opposition group based in northern Iraq’s semi‑autonomous Kurdistan Region has said it is “highly likely” that Kurdish fighters could carry out a ground operation inside Iran, as tensions in the region continue to escalate.
Babasheikh Hosseini, secretary‑general of the Khabat Organisation of Iranian Kurdistan, told Al Jazeera that while no offensive has started yet, fighters have been planning for such an operation for some time and believe the current conditions make action more probable. He said the group’s forces were not currently engaged in combat, but added that it is “highly likely” they will move forward with a ground campaign.
Hosseini also noted that the United States had contacted the group “through various channels,” though direct meetings had not yet taken place. He said Kurdish fighters would need weapons, explosives and advanced equipment to carry out any ground operation, capabilities they currently lack.
Meanwhile, officials in Iraq and the semi‑autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have emphasised that Iraqi territory should not be used as a launchpad for attacks against neighbouring countries, and Tehran has warned that it will target any separatist forces that threaten its territorial integrity.
The situation underscores how the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel is affecting dynamics along the Iran‑Iraq border and raising fears of further escalation.