US President Trump backs potential Kurdish military operation in Iran

US President Donald Trump has expressed public support for a potential Kurdish offensive against Iran, according to reports. The remarks were made during a conversation with Reuters news agency on Thursday.

Trump reportedly told leaders in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq that he would be “all for” a possible ground assault by Iranian Kurdish groups inside Iran. This comes as the US has been reported to have encouraged Iranian Kurdish groups to launch an armed uprising.

The White House confirmed that Trump had contacted Kurdish leaders in Iraq, but denied any agreement to support a plan for an armed rebellion by the Kurds in Iran. The president’s comments were made during a series of calls with regional partners and allies, according to Karoline Leavitt, a White House spokesperson.

US assets in Erbil, Iraq have been targeted by Iranian drone and missile attacks since the conflict began. Iran is home to millions of Kurds, primarily residing in the western part of the country. The Kurdish minority also exists in Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

Mustafa Hijri, head of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, has called for desertion from the Iranian army and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He urged soldiers and personnel to abandon their duties and return home, citing concerns over attacks on Kurdish communities.

The US has a history of urging Kurdish groups seeking autonomy to rebel against hostile governments in the region. However, this approach has sometimes been met with mixed results. Critics have warned that stoking ethnic tensions in Iran could lead to further instability in the region.

Iran’s Press TV reported that the IRGC launched missiles and drones at the headquarters of “anti-Iran terrorist groups” in the Iraqi Kurdistan region on Wednesday. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq condemned the attacks, denying any involvement in an offensive against Iran.

Source: Al Jazeera