The secretary-general of the Khabat Organisation of Iranian Kurdistan, Babasheikh Hosseini, told Al Jazeera that it is "highly likely" Iranian Kurdish groups will stage a cross-border ground operation into Iran. Hosseini stated, "We have been planning for a long time, and now that conditions are more favourable, there is a strong probability of action," while clarifying that no operation is underway "at this point" but the group is considering a campaign. He added that the United States had made contact through various channels, though no direct meetings have occurred.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Saturday that it had targeted "separatist groups" in Iraq's Kurdish region, with a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency saying, "Three locations of separatist groups in the Iraqi region of Kurdistan were hit this morning." The IRGC warned, "If separatist groups in the region make any move against Iran's territorial integrity, we will crush them." This came after the Iraqi government and Kurdish Regional Government affirmed that Iraqi territory must not be used as a launchpad for attacks against neighboring countries.
A series of drone attacks struck various sites in Iraq, including airports and oil facilities. Security sources reported a drone targeting the Erbil Arjaan by Rotana hotel in the Kurdish region, while Baghdad International Airport and an oil complex in Basra were also attacked. The U.S. embassy in Baghdad warned on social media that Iran-aligned fighter groups may seek to target hotels frequented by foreigners in the Kurdish region, highlighting the escalating security threats.
Israeli sources indicated that Israel has been bombing parts of western Iran to support Iranian Kurdish fighters, and U.S. President Donald Trump allegedly told Reuters it would be "wonderful" if they crossed the border. Hosseini's remarks and the IRGC's actions underscore the heightened tensions in the region, with the potential for broader conflict as external actors like the U.S. and Israel purportedly engage in the situation, raising concerns about stability and sovereignty.
Source: www.aljazeera.com