Iranian Kurdish militias have held consultations with the United States in recent days about potentially launching an Iran military operation against Iranian security forces in the country’s western regions. Three sources with knowledge of the discussions revealed the talks to Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity due to sensitive military planning. The Kurdish coalition groups, based along the Iran-Iraq border in Iraqi Kurdistan, have been training for such an operation. Their goal involves weakening Iran’s military as American and Israeli strikes continue pounding Iranian targets.
The proposed Iran military operation aims to create conditions for Iranians opposed to the Islamic regime to rise up following the deaths of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top officials. These leaders were killed since the US-Israeli attack began on Saturday, according to two sources. A final decision regarding the operation and its timing has not yet been reached. The Kurdish groups have requested US military support, and Iraqi leaders in both Erbil and Baghdad have also communicated with the Trump administration in recent days.
CIA Involvement Discussed
The forces are negotiating with the United States about potential CIA assistance to provide weapons, two sources indicated. CNN first reported on CIA involvement with the groups and the potential ground operation. Axios reported this week that President Trump held a telephone conversation with two of Iraqi Kurdistan’s top leaders. Reuters could not independently confirm the extent of CIA participation in planning the Iran military operation, whether the agency facilitated weapons, or if any US forces plan to enter Iran with Kurdish groups.
The CIA declined to comment on the reports. The White House and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Kurdish Regional Government also did not provide an immediate response. The sensitivity of the discussions reflects the high stakes involved in any potential ground operation amid the escalating US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
Operational Requirements and Challenges
Any Iran military operation launched from Iraq would likely require significant US military and intelligence support. The Pentagon maintains two bases in Erbil that have supported the international coalition fighting Islamic State militants. Kurdish groups in Iraqi Kurdistan share a long history of cooperation with the United States, though shifting allegiances and ideologies have occasionally strained ties. Washington worked with some Kurdish groups during both the Iraq War and the battle against ISIS.
The effectiveness of Iranian Kurdish groups in fighting inside Iran remains uncertain. Fighters possess varying degrees of battlefield experience, potentially limiting operational success. A source cited by CNN indicated the plan would involve Kurdish armed forces engaging Iranian security forces to facilitate unarmed Iranian uprisings in cities. This strategy would attempt to combine external military pressure with internal civilian resistance.
Regional Stability Concerns
A potential Iran military operation by Kurdish forces carries serious consequences for regional stability. An armed Kurdish uprising could fuel separatist movements among Iran’s ethnic Baluch minority, which maintains ties with separatists in Pakistan’s restive Baluchistan province. Islamabad would unlikely tolerate any move toward Baluch independence, potentially drawing Pakistan into broader regional conflict.
Turkey’s position adds another layer of complexity. Ankara strongly supports Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and views integration between Damascus and Kurdish forces as critical to restoring state authority across Syria. Turkey has previously threatened military operations against Syrian Kurdish Democratic Forces if the group refused central government control. Ankara is advancing long-running efforts toward peace with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party and would likely oppose arming Kurdish groups near its borders.
Historical Context of US-Kurdish Relations
The discussions represent the latest chapter in complex US-Kurdish relations dating back decades. American forces collaborated with Kurdish fighters during the 2003 Iraq War and subsequently against ISIS. Kurdish persistence and battlefield effectiveness earned respect from US military commanders. However, competing Kurdish factions with different political agendas have sometimes complicated American policy objectives.
The current Iran military operation discussions occur amid broader regional realignment following leadership changes in Tehran. Khamenei’s death removed a central figure who had guided Iranian strategy for decades. Succession questions and potential power struggles within the regime create vulnerabilities that Kurdish groups and their US backers may seek to exploit. The timing of consultations suggests American planners view this as a potentially opportune moment for action.
Humanitarian and Political Implications
Any ground operation would inevitably impact civilian populations in western Iran. Kurdish communities living on both sides of the Iran-Iraq border could face displacement or retaliation. Human rights organizations would likely scrutinize military actions for compliance with international law. The involvement of US intelligence and potential weapons supplies would raise questions about American accountability for operational consequences.
Political reception among other regional actors remains unclear. Arab states have reacted cautiously to the broader US-Israeli campaign against Iran, balancing concern about Iranian power with unease about regional destabilization. A Kurdish military operation could shift these calculations, potentially drawing reactions from Gulf countries and others with significant Kurdish populations or strategic interests in Iran.
The coming days may bring clarity on whether the Iran military operation proceeds and what form it might take. Decision-makers must weigh potential gains against risks of wider conflict, unintended consequences, and uncertain outcomes. For Kurdish groups, the opportunity to strike against Tehran carries both promise and peril. For Washington, supporting such an operation offers potential strategic advantage while entangling American prestige in complex ethnic and regional dynamics. For the broader region, the prospect of Kurdish forces engaging Iranian security forces opens another front in an already widening conflict.
