'We have been preparing': Why the boots on the ground in Iran could be Kurdish

March 5, 2026

Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in northern Iraq are preparing to potentially cross into Iran to join the conflict against the Tehran regime, though they deny having already done so. These groups, which have formed a coalition and claim to have been planning such action for 47 years, say they need the US to establish a no-fly zone and destroy Iranian weapons depots before they can safely advance with their limited weaponry. The Kurds, representing about 10% of Iran's population, see the current US-Israel military campaign as an opportunity to fight for change in their homeland, despite their history of being abandoned by allies and recent tensions with the Trump administration over Syria.

Who is affected

Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in exile in northern Iraq (including Kurdistan Freedom Party/PAK, Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran/KDPI, and Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan)
Kurdish fighters (peshmerga) in these opposition groups
Kurdish civilians in Iran (approximately 10% of Iran's 90 million population)
The Iraqi government in Baghdad
Family members of Kurdish opposition leaders who have been killed, imprisoned, or arrested by the Iranian regime
US allies among Syrian Kurds who were recently affected by Trump's policy shift

What action is being taken

The US and Israel are conducting airstrikes on targets in Iran (described as ongoing for six days)
Iranian Kurdish opposition groups are coordinating politically and militarily through their recently formed coalition
Tehran is attacking Kurdish opposition bases, including ballistic missile strikes
Some Kurdish groups are emptying their bases and relocating forces to protect them from Iranian attacks

Why it matters

This matters because it could mark a significant escalation in the conflict with Iran, potentially opening a ground warfare front after years of aerial bombardment. The involvement of Iranian Kurdish forces—representing 10% of Iran's population and described as the most politically organized opposition group—could fundamentally alter the dynamics of regime change efforts in Iran. The situation also tests historical patterns of Kurdish betrayal by international allies and highlights Iraq's vulnerability to being drawn into regional conflict. For the Kurds themselves, this represents a generational opportunity after 47 years of preparation to challenge a regime that has systematically persecuted them.

What's next

Kurdish opposition leader Mustafa Mauludi expects to enter Iran in time for the Kurdish new year festival (Nowruz) on March 21
Kurdish forces are waiting for the US to establish a no-fly zone and destroy Iranian regime weapons depots before advancing
The groups expect coordination before any movement, with no individual faction acting alone

Read full article from source: BBC