Trump Administration Weighs Support for Kurdish Militias in Potential Offensive Against Iran
ERBIL, Iraq – The Trump administration is signaling a willingness to back Kurdish opposition groups in Iran, potentially providing air support and logistical assistance should they launch an offensive against Tehran, according to multiple reports and confirmed by Kurdish officials. The move comes as tensions escalate in the region and reflects a strategy of utilizing proxy forces to counter Iranian influence, rather than direct military intervention.
The potential shift in U.S. policy comes amid growing concerns over Iran’s regional activities and its nuclear program. While President Trump has repeatedly stated he does not seek “boots on the ground” in Iran, the administration appears open to supporting groups capable of challenging the Iranian regime from within.
Recent conversations between Trump administration officials and leaders of Kurdish groups in Iran and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have been central to this evolving strategy. A senior Kurdish Iranian official revealed that Trump spoke with Mustafa Hijri, president of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), earlier this week. The White House has also reportedly urged the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), another major Kurdish Iraqi party, to “clear the path” for Iranian Kurdish groups operating from Iraqi territory and to provide logistical support.
Intelligence sources indicate the CIA is actively working to arm Kurdish forces with the goal of inciting an uprising within Iran. A Kurdish Iranian official told CNN that opposition forces are preparing for a ground operation in western Iran in the coming days, aiming to seize territory in the Kurdish region and inspire wider unrest.
The initiative, however, appears to have roots beyond the U.S. administration. According to a U.S. official, the idea of leveraging Iranian Kurdish factions for a ground offensive originated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Mossad, with the CIA joining the effort later.
The Kurdish population, numbering between 35 and 45 million, represents the largest ethnic minority in the Middle East, spread across Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Within Iran, Kurds comprise between 8 and 17% of the population and have a long history of conflict with the central government, seeking greater autonomy or independence.
Groups like the PDKI have been armed and operating from bases in the border region between Iraq and Iran for decades. These groups face restrictions within Iran, including limitations on the use of the Kurdish language and reports of arbitrary arrests of Kurdish activists, as documented by organizations like Amnesty International.
The current situation is already prompting a response from Iran. On Thursday, Iranian forces bombarded Kurdish positions in Iraqi Kurdistan, which also hosts U.S. troops, in what they described as a preventative measure. A member of the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) stated they have been preparing for a confrontation with Iran for 47 years.
The potential for escalation remains high, as the region braces for a possible new front in the ongoing struggle for influence between Iran and its rivals.
