NewNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
First on Fox: As US and Israeli military pressure on Iran has intensified, and President Donald Trump has signaled support for Kurdish forces, Kurdish opposition groups on the country’s western border told Fox News Digital they are looking for an opportunity to retaliate against the Islamic Republic they have fought for decades.
Kako Aliyar, a member of the leadership committee of the Kurdish opposition party Komla, told Fox News Digital from an undisclosed location in Iraq that the Kurdish movement is ready to take action if circumstances permit.
“The Kurds are waiting for a moment to do something,” Aliyar said. “We believe that those moments are not far from us.”
But Aliyar said Kurdish forces could not yet move against the regime because Iran still had the ability to launch missile and drone attacks, which opposition fighters would struggle to defend against.
Iranian Kurdish fighters from the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) take part in a training session on the outskirts of Erbil, Iraq, on February 12, 2026. (Tayer al-Sudani/Reuters)
Aliyar said Iranian forces were targeting Kurdish opposition positions across the border in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
Trump signaled his support for Kurdish fighters launching an offensive against Iran, saying in a telephone interview with Reuters on Thursday that he would support such a move.
“I think it’s wonderful that they want to do this – I’m all for it,” Trump said.
Asked whether the United States would provide air cover for a Kurdish offensive, Trump declined to elaborate.
He said, “I can’t tell you that.”
Aliyar said Kurdish groups are under pressure from Iran and are facing attacks on their bases across the border in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
He said, “Our camps, Kurdish political parties are still being attacked by the Iranian regime, and we cannot go into details.”
Nevertheless, he indicated that if given the opportunity, Kurdish fighters would attempt to return to Iranian territory.
“If we get a chance to go back to our country, we will use it,” he said.
Kurdish opposition signals unity
The comments come as Iranian Kurdish opposition groups attempt to present a united front against Iran.
In February, several factions formed the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan, bringing together parties including Komla, the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), PJAK, and the Kurdistan Freedom Party.
Aliyar said the alliance is still organizing itself but sends an important political message.
“Politically, this is a big message to the Kurdish people inside the country and to the international community that the Kurds are united,” he said. “We’re working together, and we’re trying to reach our goals together.”
Kurdish groups have long been fighting the Iranian government. Armed clashes between Kurdish militants and Iranian forces date back to the years after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, when Kurdish factions sought autonomy and were violently suppressed by Tehran.
Today, many Kurdish opposition groups operate from neighboring Iraqi Kurdistan, where they hold political offices and limited military forces.
Netanyahu insists US and Israeli attacks on Iran will not lead to ‘endless war’
A general view of Tehran, Iran, seen in the distance after explosions were reported in the city on March 2, 2026. (Contributor/Getty Images)
Waiting for Iran’s military capabilities to weaken
Aliyar suggested that Kurdish forces would be able to advance only if Iran’s military capabilities were significantly reduced.
“I believe those missile and drone capabilities will have to be further weakened or removed altogether because we are no longer able to defend ourselves against them,” he said.
Iran’s ability to launch missiles and drones remains one of the regime’s strongest deterrents against internal or external challengers.
“They can still fire missiles and they can still kill people,” Aliyar said.
If those capabilities were reduced, he believes Kurdish forces could attempt to exploit the moment.
“I think everyone has the ability to do that because Kurdish political parties have a lot of legitimacy among the people,” he said. “People support them, people support us.”
However, Aliyar cautioned that no one can predict how events will unfold.
He said, “When a war starts, you’re trying to find a way to use it to your best advantage, but you can’t predict what will happen tomorrow.”
Kurdish resistance has its roots in decades of conflict
Kurds in Iran represent one of the country’s largest ethnic minorities and have historically maintained organized opposition movements.
Kurdish parties developed armed wings and political networks decades ago, giving them a level of organizational structure that many other Iranian opposition movements lack.
Zino Victoria Doabi, an international political analyst focused on Iran and Kurdistan, told Fox News Digital that “the Kurds inside Iran have their own history and tradition of conflict and resistance with political parties and armed forces.”
Doabi said Kurdish forces were unlikely to advance without Washington’s explicit support.
Amid US-Israeli attack, Trump told Iranians, ‘The time of your freedom is near’
iran
The February 28, 2026 bombings occurred in Tehran, Iran. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Getty Images)
“For that to happen, they need assurances from the US politically and also in terms of security,” Doabi said.
“The Kurds have learned that they can no longer do this just for the sake of good cause, because it will cause a lot of pain, destruction and killings of civilians.”
According to Doabi, discussions about the idea of Kurdish participation may have been ongoing long before the recent tensions.
“I don’t think it happened overnight,” he said. “I think this has been discussed for a long time.”
regional complexities
Despite the increased attention on Kurdish groups, Aliyar stressed that Iraqi Kurdish officials are not directly involved in any potential operation.
“Iraqi Kurds are not part of this,” he said. “I’m not Iraqi, so I can’t comment on it.”
Analysts say Kurdish rebels alone are unlikely to overthrow the Iranian regime. But if internal unrest spreads and Kurdish forces coordinate with broader opposition movements, Iran’s western border could become a serious pressure point for Iran.
Click here to download Fox News App
A man holds a photo of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a protest by Iranian demonstrators against US-Israeli attacks in Tehran, Iran on February 28, 2026. (Majid Asgharipour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)
However, for Aliyar and other Kurdish leaders, the goal is clear after decades of opposition to the Islamic Republic.
“We have had this desire for 47 years,” he said. “If we get a chance, we will use it.”
Related Articles
