Sources familiar with discussions say Israel has engaged Kurdish insurgent factions as they consider seizing Iranian border towns amid the expanding regional conflict.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Israel has been holding discussions with Iranian Kurdish militant groups as those factions consider launching an offensive to seize territory along Iran’s western border, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks.
The discussions come as fighting between Iran and a U.S.-Israeli coalition continues to expand across the Middle East, raising concerns that additional fronts could emerge inside Iranian territory.
According to individuals with knowledge of the communications, Israeli officials have been in contact with Kurdish armed groups based in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq for roughly a year. Two Kurdish sources familiar with the militant factions and one Israeli source confirmed the long-running contacts.
The individuals spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
The possibility of Kurdish forces crossing into Iran gained attention Friday when President Donald Trump told Reuters that it would be “wonderful” if Kurdish militias entered Iranian territory.
Sources said Kurdish fighters are discussing a possible operation targeting several towns near the Iranian border, including Oshnavieh and Piranshahr.
According to the same sources, thousands of fighters have been assembling along the Iraqi side of the frontier and could attempt an offensive within the coming week. Reuters was unable to independently verify those preparations.
Independent estimates place the combined strength of the militias between 5,000 and 8,000 fighters. The groups are reportedly equipped mainly with light weapons.
Analysts say that while the Kurdish factions are unlikely to mount a large-scale campaign capable of overthrowing Iran’s government, a cross-border insurgency could complicate Tehran’s efforts to respond to the ongoing air war.
An Israeli source familiar with the discussions said Israel’s objective would not be to topple Iran’s leadership but rather to strain the country’s ability to control outlying regions and divert resources from other military priorities.
The insurgent alliance formed last month among several Iranian Kurdish opposition groups. The coalition includes the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), organizations that have previously conducted armed operations and maintain fighters in Iraqi territory.
Despite those developments, political leaders in Iraq’s Kurdistan region have publicly rejected suggestions that they intend to support a military incursion into Iran. Officials in Iraqi Kurdistan have denied any plans to deploy fighters or become involved in the conflict.
Sources familiar with the discussions said the lack of formal support from Iraqi Kurdish authorities could complicate the militants’ ability to organize an offensive.
The Israeli source also cautioned that hesitation among Kurdish leaders may stem from uncertainty about the duration of the broader conflict with Iran.
Iran has already conducted attacks against Kurdish armed groups operating inside Iraq and has also targeted U.S. military bases in the region. On Friday, Iranian officials warned Iraqi Kurdistan that Tehran would retaliate against any deployment of hostile forces along the border.
According to the sources, Kurdish networks inside Iran have been providing intelligence about border areas to both U.S. and Israeli officials.
Israeli analyst Jonathan Spyer said Israel may be seeking to weaken the Iranian government through indirect means.
“Israel is seeking to destroy the regime by any means available,” Spyer said.
However, Danny Citrinowicz, an Iran specialist and former Israeli intelligence officer, said Kurdish insurgency efforts face significant limitations due to uncertain support among Kurdish populations in both Iraq and Iran.
“I think they’re all waiting to see if the regime will hold on or not,” Citrinowicz said.
Officials in Turkey and Iraq have also expressed concern about the prospect of a Kurdish insurgency expanding inside Iran, noting that Kurdish populations live across several countries including Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran.
Citrinowicz warned that external support for a rebellion could potentially strengthen nationalist sentiment within Iran.
Israel has historically maintained discreet military, intelligence and political ties with Kurdish groups dating back to the 1960s, viewing them as strategic partners against common adversaries in the region.
The Kurdish sources said the insurgent groups currently maintain closer operational communication with U.S. officials than with Israel. They also indicated that any offensive would likely require air support from both countries.
One source said the groups have not yet received additional weapons but may request equipment including drones, artillery systems, small arms and air-defense capabilities.
Kurdish leaders have also expressed concerns about long-term security guarantees. One of the sources said Kurdish officials remain wary of repeating experiences similar to those of Kurdish forces in northern Syria, who lost territory after years of cooperation with the United States.
The Kurdish factions have stated that their ultimate goal would be the creation of a semi-autonomous Kurdish region within a federal system inside Iran, modeled after the autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq.
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