Israel Held Talks With Kurdish Militias As Border Offensive Plans Against Iran Emerge: Report

Last Updated:March 06, 2026, 23:57 IST

Israel is reportedly in talks with Iranian Kurdish militant groups to open a new front along Iran’s western border. Kurdish militias may seize towns near Iran-Iraq.

Israel has reportedly been in talks with Iranian Kurdish militant groups as part of efforts that could open a new front along Iran’s western border amid the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Tehran, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

Three sources told Reuters that Israel has been bombing parts of western Iran while Kurdish militias consider exploiting the conflict to seize towns near the Iran-Iraq frontier.

The possibility of Kurdish fighters launching a cross-border offensive gained attention after US President Donald Trump said it would be “wonderful" if Iranian Kurdish forces based in Iraq crossed into Iran.

Sources said Israel has been engaging with Iranian Kurdish insurgent groups operating in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region for around a year. An Israeli source described the contacts as “long-term", though the Israeli government and military have not publicly commented on the alleged engagement.

According to the sources, Kurdish factions are considering an initial push to capture towns near the border, including Oshnavieh and Piranshahr. Thousands of fighters are believed to be gathering on the Iraqi side of the frontier and could attempt an offensive within a week, although this has not been independently verified.

Estimates suggest the combined strength of the Kurdish militias ranges between 5,000 and 8,000 fighters. The groups are mainly equipped with light weapons and may not have the capability to mount a large-scale challenge to Iranian control, but analysts say coordinated action could stretch Iran’s security forces.

An Israeli source indicated that the aim would not be to overthrow Iran’s government but to pressure Tehran by forcing its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to divert resources toward the border.

Five long-standing Iranian dissident Kurdish groups recently announced a new alliance, including the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), all of which have previously carried out insurgent activities.

However, political leaders in Iraqi Kurdistan have publicly denied plans to support or deploy fighters into Iran, and analysts say the lack of backing from Iraqi Kurdish authorities could limit any cross-border mobilisation.

Iran has already warned Iraqi Kurdistan that it would retaliate against any hostile deployment along its frontier and has previously targeted Kurdish militant positions in Iraq.

Sources also claimed that Kurdish groups inside Iran have been providing targeting intelligence to the United States and Israel for air strikes in border areas.

Analysts say the situation remains uncertain. Some experts believe Kurdish factions are waiting to see how the conflict evolves before taking major action, while others warn that supporting insurgencies could fuel nationalism inside Iran.

Iranian Kurdish leaders are said to be seeking assurances from Washington before committing to any major offensive. Their long-term goal, according to sources, is to establish a semi-autonomous Kurdish region within a federal Iran, similar to the governance model in Iraq.

-Inputs from Reuters

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