Kurdish opposition teams say able to strike Iran amid US strain

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FIRST ON FOX: As U.S. and Israeli army strain on Iran intensifies, and President Donald Trump alerts help for Kurdish forces, Kurdish opposition teams alongside the nation’s western frontier inform Fox Information Digital they're watching intently for an opportunity to strike back in opposition to the Islamic Republic, which they've fought for many years.

Kako Aliyar, a member of the management committee of the Kurdish opposition occasion Komala, advised Fox Information Digital that Kurdish actions are able to act if situations enable.

"Kurds have been ready for a second to do one thing," Aliyar mentioned. "We consider that these moments usually are not removed from us."

However Aliyar mentioned Kurdish forces can't but transfer in opposition to the regime as a result of Iran nonetheless retains the flexibility to launch missile and drone assaults, which opposition fighters would wrestle to defend in opposition to.

Iranian Kurdish fighters from the Kurdistan Freedom Occasion (PAK) participate in a coaching session at a base on the outskirts of Erbil, Iraq Feb. 12, 2026. (Thaier Al-Sudani/ Reuters)

Aliyar mentioned Iranian forces proceed to focus on Kurdish opposition bases throughout the border in Iraq’s Kurdistan area.

Trump signaled help for Kurdish fighters launching an offensive in opposition to Iran, saying in a phone interview with Reuters Thursday that he would again such a transfer.

"I feel it is fantastic that they wish to try this — I might be all for it," Trump mentioned.

Requested whether or not the US would offer air cowl for a Kurdish offensive, Trump declined to elaborate.

"I am unable to inform you that," he mentioned.

Aliyar mentioned Kurdish teams stay beneath strain from Iran and proceed to face assaults on their bases throughout the border in Iraq’s Kurdistan area.

"Our camps, the Kurdish political events, are nonetheless beneath assault by the Iranian regime, and we are able to’t go into element," he mentioned.

Nonetheless, he indicated that if the chance arises, Kurdish fighters would try and return to Iranian territory.

"If we get a possibility to return to our personal nation, we are going to use it," he mentioned.

Kurdish opposition alerts unity The feedback come as Iranian Kurdish opposition teams try and current a united entrance in opposition to Iran.

In February, a number of factions fashioned the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan, bringing collectively events together with Komala, the Democratic Occasion of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), PJAK and the Kurdistan Freedom Occasion.

Aliyar mentioned the coalition continues to be organizing itself however carries an essential political message.

"Politically, it’s an enormous message for the Kurdish folks contained in the nation and the worldwide neighborhood that Kurds are united," he mentioned. "We're working collectively, and we try to achieve our objectives collectively."

Kurdish teams have lengthy fought the Iranian authorities. Armed clashes between Kurdish militants and Iranian forces date again to the years following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, when Kurdish factions sought autonomy and have been violently suppressed by Tehran.

Immediately, many Kurdish opposition teams function from neighboring Iraqi Kurdistan, the place they keep political places of work and restricted army forces.

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<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/343/192/ex-centcom-chief-details-exquisite-intel-behind-iran-strikes-fox-news-001.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/686/384/ex-centcom-chief-details-exquisite-intel-behind-iran-strikes-fox-news-001.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/672/378/ex-centcom-chief-details-exquisite-intel-behind-iran-strikes-fox-news-001.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1344/756/ex-centcom-chief-details-exquisite-intel-behind-iran-strikes-fox-news-001.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/931/523/ex-centcom-chief-details-exquisite-intel-behind-iran-strikes-fox-news-001.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1862/1046/ex-centcom-chief-details-exquisite-intel-behind-iran-strikes-fox-news-001.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/720/405/ex-centcom-chief-details-exquisite-intel-behind-iran-strikes-fox-news-001.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/03/1440/810/ex-centcom-chief-details-exquisite-intel-behind-iran-strikes-fox-news-001.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> A common view of Tehran, Iran, with smoke seen within the distance after explosions have been reported within the metropolis, March 2, 2026. (Contributor/Getty Photos)

Ready for Iran’s army capabilities to weaken Aliyar prompt Kurdish forces would solely have the ability to transfer if Iran’s army capabilities are considerably degraded.

"I consider these missile and drone talents should be extra weakened or completely eliminated as a result of we're not in a position to defend ourselves in opposition to them," he mentioned.

Iran’s capability to launch missiles and drones stays one of many regime’s strongest deterrents in opposition to inside or exterior challengers.

"They'll nonetheless launch missiles they usually can nonetheless kill folks," Aliyar mentioned.

If these capabilities have been lowered, he believes Kurdish forces may try to take advantage of the second.

"I feel everybody has the capability to take action as a result of Kurdish political events have large legitimacy among the many folks," he mentioned. "Folks help them, folks help us."

Nevertheless, Aliyar cautioned that nobody can predict how occasions will unfold.

"When a struggle begins, you are attempting to discover a means to make use of it in your finest means, however you can not predict what occurs tomorrow," he mentioned.

Kurdish resistance rooted in many years of wrestle Kurds in Iran signify one of many nation’s largest ethnic minorities and have traditionally maintained organized opposition movements .

Kurdish events developed armed wings and political networks many years in the past, giving them a stage of organizational construction that many different Iranian opposition actions lack.

Jino Victoria Doabi, a global political analyst centered on Iran and Kurdistan, advised Fox Information Digital that "Kurds inside Iran have their very own historical past and custom of wrestle and resistance with political events and armed forces."

Doabi mentioned that Kurdish forces are unlikely to maneuver with out clear backing from Washington.

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IRAN

Bombing happens in Tehran, Iran on February 28, 2026. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Getty Photos)

"For that to occur, they want assurance from America , each politically but in addition security-wise," Doabi mentioned.

"Kurds have discovered that they can not simply do it for the nice trigger anymore, as a result of that is going to trigger civilians a whole lot of ache and destruction and killings."

Discussions concerning the concept of Kurdish involvement could have been underway lengthy earlier than the current escalation, in line with Doabi.

"I do not assume this has occurred in a single day," she mentioned. "I feel this has been mentioned for a very long time."

Regional problems Regardless of the rising consideration on Kurdish teams, Aliyar emphasised that Iraqi Kurdish authorities usually are not straight concerned in any potential marketing campaign.

"Iraqi Kurds usually are not a part of it," he mentioned. "I'm not Iraqi, so I can't touch upon that."

Analysts say Kurdish insurgents alone are unlikely to topple the Iranian regime. But when inside unrest spreads and Kurdish forces coordinate with broader opposition actions, Iran’s western frontier may turn into a critical strain level for Iran.

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An individual holds a picture of Iran's Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iranian demonstrators protest in opposition to the U.S.-Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, Feb. 28, 2026. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia Information Company) by way of Reuters)

For Aliyar and different Kurdish leaders, nonetheless, the aim stays clear after many years of opposition to the Islamic Republic.

"We've had this want for 47 years," he mentioned. "If we get a possibility, we are going to use it."

Associated Article Efrat Lachter is a overseas correspondent for Fox Information Digital overlaying worldwide affairs and the United Nations. Comply with her on X @efratlachter. Tales may be despatched to efrat.lachter@fox.com .