Kurdish group says fighters in Iraq may launch ground op in Iran

Babasheikh Hosseini, secretary-general of the Hibat Organisation based in Iraqi Kurdistan, said that Kurdish fighters from Iranian Kurdistan operating in Iraq could potentially launch a ground operation inside Iran.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Hosseini stated that the United States had contacted the group through “various channels,” although no direct meetings have taken place.

When asked whether his forces were currently preparing for a ground offensive, Hosseini said: “At the moment — no. We are not carrying out any offensive operations right now.”

At the same time, he noted that the organization has been preparing for such a scenario for a long time and that recent developments could increase the likelihood of action.

“We have been preparing for a long time, and now that the conditions have become more favorable, the probability of active operations is high,” he said.

According to Hosseini, a final decision has not yet been made, but a ground operation remains a strong possibility.

He also explained that communication with the United States has so far taken place only through intermediaries.

“The Americans contacted us through different channels, but we have not met them personally. However, they did reach out to us. They asked what should be done with this regime, what options exist, and said that we could cooperate in the future — only in that context. So far there has been no direct communication, only through intermediaries and other Kurds.

When the time comes and we meet them, everything will become clear during the fighting. Of course, during combat we will need weapons, explosives and modern equipment. As you understand, our equipment is outdated, and modern wars have become far more technological than before. If we had access to such resources, we would certainly request them,” Hosseini said.

By Tamilla Hasanova