CIA Prepares to Arm Kurdish Forces in Potential Uprising Against Iran
The United States, through the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is reportedly preparing to arm Kurdish forces with the aim of fomenting an uprising within Iran, as the conflict between Iran and the US-Israel alliance enters its fifth day. The move comes amid escalating regional tensions and follows a drone attack allegedly launched by Iran targeting a CIA station at the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
Escalating Tensions and US Strategy
The CIA’s plan involves providing military support to Iranian opposition groups and Kurdish leaders in Iraq, according to multiple sources. Iranian Kurdish armed groups, numbering in the thousands, operate along the Iraq-Iran border, primarily within Iraq’s Kurdistan region. Several groups have publicly hinted at imminent action and urged defections from the Iranian military.
A senior Iranian Kurdish official stated that Kurdish opposition forces are preparing for ground operations in western Iran “in the coming days,” anticipating support from both the US, and Israel. The goal is to stretch Tehran’s security services and potentially create instability within the country.
Trump Administration Involvement
President Donald Trump recently spoke with Mustafa Hijri, the president of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), one of the groups targeted by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The KDPI has been publicly advocating for action against the Iranian government.
Risks and Considerations
The strategy is not without risk. Iranian Kurdish forces operate from Iraqi Kurdistan, and the Iraqi Kurdish leadership seeks to maintain neutrality in the conflict due to its important relationships with both Türkiye and Iran. A Trump administration official cautioned that securing the cooperation of proxy forces is not guaranteed, as these groups prioritize their own interests.
Recent Iranian Actions
Iran’s IRGC has been actively targeting Kurdish groups, launching dozens of drones against Kurdish forces on Tuesday. This follows the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday, February 28th, which prompted retaliatory missile and drone attacks against Israel and US bases in the Gulf region.
Potential Buffer Zone for Israel
According to reports, one potential outcome of the operation is the establishment of a buffer zone in northern Iran, which could serve Israel’s security interests.
Sources:CNN, The Independent, Times Now News, Al Jazeera