According to multiple reports citing a senior U.S. official speaking to Fox News, thousands of Kurdish fighters have crossed from Iraq into Iranian territory, launching a significant ground offensive against the Iranian regime.
Kabul 24: The operation, which began in early March 2026 amid ongoing U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military targets, marks a major escalation in the conflict.
Sources indicate that many of the fighters are Iranian Kurds who have lived in exile in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region for years and are now returning to northwestern Iran. They belong to well-organized opposition groups such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), Komala, and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), which collectively maintain thousands of trained combatants with experience from prior conflicts, including battles against ISIS.
The ground incursion follows weeks of intense aerial bombardment under Operation Epic Fury, which has reportedly decimated large portions of Iran’s missile stocks, navy, and air defenses. U.S. officials have suggested the Kurdish move aims to pin down Iranian security forces in the west, disperse regime troops, and potentially spark broader internal uprisings in major cities by creating openings for unarmed protesters.
Reports from outlets like the New York Post, CNN, and Sky News Australia corroborate the development, noting preparations by Kurdish groups along the border in recent days.
A senior Iranian Kurdish official told CNN that opposition forces were poised for ground operations in western Iran, while some fighters had already moved to forward positions near Sulaymaniyah province.
However, reactions remain mixed. Kurdish authorities in Iraq’s semi-autonomous region have denied large-scale involvement by Iraqi Kurds, insisting no official forces crossed the border and emphasizing that Kurdistan should not serve as a launchpad for attacks on neighbors.
Iran has rejected claims of a major incursion, labeling reports as propaganda, though it has conducted retaliatory drone and missile strikes on suspected militant positions in Iraqi Kurdistan.Analysts warn that if sustained, this ground front could significantly strain Iran’s already weakened defenses and heighten regional tensions.
The involvement of U.S.-backed elements raises questions about potential escalation, with some sources suggesting covert American support—including arms transfers—to enable the operation. The situation remains fluid, with developments on the ground and official statements expected to clarify the scale and impact in the coming days.
