Is this the U.S. "ground forces"? Kurdish militants have begun ground operations inside Iran.

On March 5th, according to Xinhua News Agency citing Israeli media reports, senior U.S. officials revealed that the “Iranian Kurdish anti-government armed forces” stationed in Iraq have launched a “ground offensive” into Iran from the northern part of Iraq.

Israeli and U.S. officials confirmed that thousands of Kurdish fighters have begun conducting ground operations inside Iran from the border regions of Iraq. It is believed that the “Iranian Kurdish anti-government armed forces” number in the thousands within Iraq. This “ground” intervention could not only pose a direct challenge to Iran but also potentially draw Iraq further into the ongoing regional conflict.

Media analysis reports that the CIA and the Trump administration are actively negotiating with these Kurdish forces and Iraqi Kurdish leaders, exploring the provision of weapons, intelligence, and training support to incite uprisings within Iran and to tie down Iranian security forces.

Previously, The Paper reported that on March 1st, Trump had a phone call with Iraqi Kurdish leaders to discuss recent U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran and possible future developments, and was in contact with other local officials.

Trump himself has also publicly stated to U.S. media that the possibility of deploying U.S. troops into Iran “if necessary” cannot be ruled out, although he later backtracked repeatedly. He said, “I’m not like every other president who says ‘We will never have ground troops.’ I say ‘It might not be necessary,’ or ‘If necessary.’”

U.S.-Israel Joint “Ground Proxy” Plan

Sources familiar with the matter told U.S. media that the Iranian Kurdish forces are discussing with the Trump administration their role in U.S.-Israel military operations against Iran. These groups are requesting intelligence, weapons, training support, and the establishment of no-fly zones.

Although no formal agreement has been reached, two insiders described this as a joint U.S.-Israel initiative, with the CIA playing a leading role.

The report states that the CIA has supported the actions of the Iranian Kurdish forces months before the outbreak of war. A former CIA officer said the agency “has maintained very good relations with the Iranian Kurds over the years.”

Recently, the Israeli military conducted strikes against military and police outposts along the Iran-Iraq border, reportedly partly to pave the way for Kurdish forces to enter northwestern Iran.

Trump’s Direct Involvement

U.S. President Trump personally engaged in communications with Kurdish leaders. Reports indicate that Trump had a phone call with a senior figure from the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), reportedly his first such contact. He also spoke with Iraqi Kurdish leader Bafel Talabani.

However, Trump’s statements about supporting Iranian opposition groups have been inconsistent. He previously encouraged opposition groups to take over the government but this week claimed he had fulfilled his promise to the Iranian people, and what happens next “depends on” them. This policy ambiguity has caused concern among Kurdish fighters.

An Iraqi Kurdish senior official told media: “One day Trump says we will overthrow the regime, the next day he says something different. The policy is unclear.”

Any “ground action” would mean “years of quagmire”: Iran’s vast and complex terrain

Although the White House has not ruled out the possibility of U.S. ground troops intervening and is actively arming proxies, military analyst Tyler Durden issued a stern warning: most Americans lack a basic understanding of Iran’s geographic scale and population, and any form of ground operation would be a nightmare.

First, the sheer size is daunting. Iran’s population exceeds 90 million, more than twice that of its neighbor Iraq. Geographically, Iran covers about 1.65 million square kilometers, roughly the size of Alaska. If overlaid on a U.S. map, Iran would span nearly one-third of the continental United States; compared to Texas, Iran also appears enormous.

Analyses point out that U.S. operations in Iraq (much smaller in area) took twenty years and paid a heavy price; the Russia-Ukraine conflict has lasted several years, and Iran’s territory is far larger than Ukraine’s. Maintaining control over 90 million people across such vast terrain from outside forces would be unimaginably difficult.

Second, the brutal history of warfare and terrain obstacles. The deadliest modern Middle Eastern war—the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)—was a fierce ground and artillery conflict. Saddam’s Iraq, supported covertly by the U.S., invaded Iran; despite tens of thousands of casualties on both sides, Iran endured and survived the stalemate. This resilience indicates that Iran has a high capacity for endurance in existential battles.

More tactical challenges include urban and mountainous terrain. Tehran’s metropolitan area has a population of about 16 million, comparable to New York City, with very high density. Any ground operation targeting such a large city would involve prolonged, brutal urban warfare. Veterans who fought in Baghdad or Fallujah know that clearing a single building can take hours and be extremely risky.

Furthermore, the Kurdish-populated region in northwest Iran—currently a focus of U.S. and Israeli hopes—is characterized by rugged mountains and complex terrain. This means any ground operation or unrest initiated by Kurdish proxies would be slow and difficult, and such defensible terrain could actually favor Iranian government forces.

As Mark Twain famously satirized: “God created war so Americans could learn geography.” Facing Iran’s vast territory and complex reality, U.S. ground options are far from easy.

Concerns from Iraq and Turkey

The plans of armed Iranian Kurds have triggered strong regional backlash. Any weapons aid would need to be transferred through Iraqi Kurdistan, causing concern for the Iraqi government. Reports compare this to the U.S. secret support for Afghan mujahideen in the 1980s, fearing it could severely destabilize the region.

Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji explicitly stated that Iraq will not allow any organization to “penetrate or cross the Iraqi border from Iran to carry out terrorist acts.” Meanwhile, Turkey remains highly alert. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara is closely monitoring the situation, as some Iranian Kurdish forces have links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Turkey has long fought.

Latest reports from Xinhua indicate that Iraq has announced a 72-hour extension of its airspace closure. The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement on the 4th, saying that due to ongoing regional tensions, the nationwide airspace closure has been extended for 72 hours, effective from 12:00 on the 4th until 12:00 on the 7th, during which all inbound, outbound, and transit flights are prohibited.

Internal Divisions and Historical Baggage of Kurdish Armed Groups

Although the U.S. hopes Kurdish armed groups can contain Iranian military forces, intelligence assessments show that these groups currently lack the influence and resources to successfully incite an uprising. Media analysis points out that internal disagreements and differing ideologies and agendas exist within Kurdish opposition organizations.

Moreover, Kurdish trust in the U.S. is limited. Historically, Kurdish forces have cooperated with the U.S. multiple times but have often been abandoned. CNN security analyst Alex Plitsas warned: “If the uprising fails and the U.S. withdraws, it will reinforce the narrative that America abandons the Kurds.” This historical baggage makes Kurdish fighters eager for political guarantees from the Trump administration before committing to resistance efforts.

Risk Disclaimer and Legal Notice

Market risks are inherent; invest cautiously. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not consider individual users’ specific investment goals, financial situations, or needs. Users should evaluate whether any opinions, viewpoints, or conclusions herein are suitable for their circumstances. Investment is at your own risk.