Trending Now - US Considers Backing Kurdish Forces Amid Iranian Aggression

WHO:

President Trump

Khalil Nadiri, official with the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK)

Masoud Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)

Bafel Talabani, head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)

Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary

Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council

Qassim al-Araji, Iraq’s National Security Adviser

Iranian Kurdish dissident groups based in northern Iraq

Iranian paramilitary Revolutionary Guard

Iranian forces

WHAT:

Kurdish Iranian dissident groups are preparing for a potential cross-border military operation in Iran.

The U.S. has asked Iraqi Kurds to support these groups.

Kurdish groups are believed to have thousands of trained fighters.

Kurdish opposition group leaders were contacted by U.S. officials regarding a potential operation.

Trump asked Iraqi Kurds to militarily support Iranian Kurdish groups and to open the border for their movement.

The PAK claimed attacks on the Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for Iran's crackdown on protests.

An official with Komala stated their forces are ready to cross the border within a week to 10 days.

Iraq reached an agreement with Iran in 2023 to disarm Iranian Kurdish groups and relocate them to designated camps.

Iraq is committed to preventing any opposition groups from crossing into Iran.

WHERE:

Northern Iraq

Sulaymaniyah province, Iraq

Iranian border

Kurdish region in Iraq

U.S. military bases and the U.S. Consulate in Irbil, Iraq

WHEN:

The call between Trump and Kurdish leaders occurred on Sunday night, March 1, 2026.

The PAK claimed attacks on the Revolutionary Guard occurred before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

The agreement between Iraq and Iran regarding Kurdish groups was reached in 2023.

WHY:

The U.S. aims to support Kurdish groups as a challenge to the Iranian authorities amid ongoing conflict.

Kurdish groups have a history of grievances against the Iranian regime, seeking to oust current authorities.

HOW:

U.S. officials are in discussions with Kurdish groups regarding military support.

Kurdish groups are preparing for a military operation and have moved forces near the Iranian border.

Iraq has sent security reinforcements to the border to prevent infiltration by opposition groups.

Kurdish Iranian dissident groups are gearing up for a potential cross-border military operation into Iran, with President Trump recently urging Iraqi Kurds to support these efforts and open the border for their movement. In a call with Kurdish leaders last Sunday night, Trump emphasized the need for military backing, while Kurdish groups, believed to have thousands of trained fighters, are reportedly ready to act within the next week to ten days. Meanwhile, Iraq has reinforced its border security to prevent any opposition groups from crossing into Iran, following a 2023 agreement to disarm these Kurdish factions and relocate them to designated camps.