Iran targets headquarters of Iranian Kurdish forces in Iraq
Tehran's strikes come amid speculation that the US wants Iranian Kurdish groups to join the fight against Iran.
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Notable Quotes
"We are closer than ever."
— Hassan , Other
"None of our objectives are premised on the support or the arming of any particular force."
— Pete Hegseth , Executive
"Separatist groups should not think that a breeze has blown and try to take action."
— Ali Larijani , Politician
"We think that the regime is in a deeply weak situation … and will soon see its end days."
— Mustafa Hijri , Politician
"Instinctively, it feels like a bad move."
— Neil Quilliam , Academic
"There can be little trust or faith amongst Iran’s Kurdish groups that US support will be honoured."
— Neil Quilliam , Academic
"must not become part of any conflict or military escalation that harms the lives and security of our fellow citizens."
— Nechirvan Barzani , Politician
Key People
Former Iranian politician and ally of Ali Khamenei.
Bafel Talabani is the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
Benjamin Netanyahu is the prime minister of Israel.
Former president of the United States known for his aggressive economic policies.
An Iranian Kurd and cousin of Mahsa Amini, he is involved with the Kurdish nationalist group Komala.
Hassan is the head coach of the Egypt national football team.
Official with the Kurdistan Freedom Party based in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region.
A prominent Kurdish leader and former President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Mustafa Hijri is the leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan.
President of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq.
Neil Quilliam is an analyst at the United Kingdom-based think tank Chatham House.
Pete Hegseth is the United States Secretary of Defense.
Locations
Tags
All Coverage
Tehran's strikes come amid speculation that the US wants Iranian Kurdish groups to join the fight against Iran.
Kurdish Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq are preparing for potential cross-border military operations against Iran, reportedly with discussions and some level of support from the United States.
A group of Iranian Kurdish factions, supported by the CIA and Mossad, is preparing for a potential ground offensive in northwestern Iran, coordinated with ongoing U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.
Iran has repeatedly attacked bases of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in northern Iraq, including the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), Komala, and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK).
Airstrikes have targeted the Iran-Iraq border as the US and Israel plan to mobilize Kurdish forces against Iran, with the CIA and Mossad backing the operation.
Reports suggest that the CIA is negotiating with multiple Kurdish groups to aid them in an uprising against Iran, with the aim of stretching Iranian forces and creating a buffer for Israel.
Iranian forces have launched operations targeting Kurdish groups in Iraq's semi-autonomous region, coinciding with a new wave of missile and drone attacks against Israel and U.S. assets in the Middle East.
Drone strikes attributed to Iran have targeted a camp housing Iranian Kurdish fighters and their families in northern Iraq, according to local officials and an exiled opposition group.
Iranian state media reports that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched missile and drone strikes against bases of Kurdish opposition groups in Iraq's Kurdistan region.
A drone strike on an Iranian Kurdish opposition group's base in Iraq's Kurdistan region wounded two fighters, highlighting ongoing tensions between Iran and militant groups in the area.
Similar Stories
Related coverage based on topic and tags
Drone targets office of Iraqi Kurdistan's PM, no casualties reported - Reuters
Drone targets office of Iraqi Kurdistan's PM, no casualties reported Reuters
August 17, 2026 at 07:43 PMIran disputes Qatar, Kuwait accounts of captured Iranian personnel - Reuters
Iran disputes Qatar, Kuwait accounts of captured Iranian personnel Reuters
August 16, 2026 at 11:27 AMEXCLUSIVE: Mossad director, Syria foreign minister discussed Turkish military deployments before strikes, sources say - Reuters
EXCLUSIVE: Mossad director, Syria foreign minister discussed Turkish military deployments before strikes, sources say Reuters
August 19, 2026 at 05:24 PMIran threatens to go on offensive in Strait of Hormuz if diplomacy with US fails - Reuters
Iran threatens to go on offensive in Strait of Hormuz if diplomacy with US fails Reuters
August 17, 2026 at 06:03 PMIsraeli airstrikes hit Syrian airbase, US envoy concerned over escalation - Reuters
Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian airbase, US envoy concerned over escalation Reuters
August 18, 2026 at 12:42 PMQatar denies capturing three Iranian pilots after downing fighter jets
Iran claims they have been held since Qatar downed two fighter jets at the start of the US-Iran war.
August 15, 2026 at 09:03 PM