‘We have been preparing’: Why the boots on the ground in Iran could be Kurdish
Why Kurdish Forces in Iran Might Soon Be on the Ground
For the fifth consecutive day, the United States and Israel have launched airstrikes against Iranian targets, intensifying the conflict from above. The question remains: could this soon escalate to ground operations? While American involvement is uncertain, Kurdish rebel factions based in northern Iraq have revealed they are ready to cross into Iran—something they’ve been planning for decades. However, they insist their fighters have not yet made the move.
Hana Yazdanpana, representing the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), stated to the BBC, “We’ve been preparing for this since the Islamic Republic’s inception, over 47 years ago.” Yet she clarified, “Not a single Peshmerga has advanced.” The term peshmerga, meaning “those who face death,” reflects their resolve. Yazdanpana emphasized that six groups, united recently in a coalition, are synchronizing their efforts both politically and militarily. “No one acts independently,” she explained. “We will know if our allies are moving.” She anticipated no immediate advance, citing the need for the US to clear the skies first.
“We can’t proceed if the air isn’t secured,” Yazdanpana said. “And we require the destruction of the regime’s weapon depots. Otherwise, it would be a deadly gamble. The regime is merciless, and our best weapon is a Kalashnikov.”
The White House refuted claims that President Donald Trump was considering equipping Kurdish fighters, many of whom were previously trained by US forces to combat the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq. Yet as speculation grows about a Kurdish incursion, Tehran has intensified its assaults. Recent strikes targeted two groups, including a ballistic missile attack that devastated a PAK base, resulting in one fatality.
Some Kurdish forces have relocated their troops to avoid being hit, highlighting the risks of joining the fight against the regime. The Kurds, comprising roughly 10% of Iran’s 90 million population, are dispersed across four countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. They’ve faced centuries of oppression and betrayal, with one Kurdish saying capturing their sentiment: “We have no friends but the mountains.”
Mustafa Mauludi, vice-president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), offered a pragmatic outlook. “America and Israel didn’t start this war for our benefit, but for their own goals,” he noted. “Still, their targeting of Islamic Revolution Guard Corps [IRGC] bases will aid us.” At 67, Mauludi has waited most of his life for the regime’s collapse. Wearing traditional Kurdish attire, he recounted a family tragedy—his cousin slain by the regime at 13, another imprisoned for 31 years on collaboration charges. He said 60% of his relatives were detained and subjected to harsh treatment due to his activism.
“When I return to my village,” Mauludi declared, “I will shout: ‘I’ve fought for you, you are my people, and now I will fight even more.'”
He believes he’ll be there in time for the Kurdish new year, Nowruz, on 21 March. Abdullah Mohtadi, secretary general of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, asserted, “We are the most organized political force in Iran. We won’t let this chance for change slip away.” However, he expressed frustration with the UK’s stance. “It’s surprising Britain is the only European nation not labeling the IRGC as terrorists,” Mohtadi said. He also criticized the UK’s reluctance to allow US use of its bases for strikes against Iran.