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Iran Says It Hit Kurdish Fighters Near Border, Iraqi Kurdish Officials Deny Incursion

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry announced that it had carried out a military operation targeting Kurdish fighters near the country’s western borders, claiming the groups were preparing to infiltrate Iran and launch attacks.

According to a statement released by Iranian state media on Thursday, the operation was conducted jointly with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iranian authorities said the strikes destroyed several bases and ammunition depots belonging to the armed groups and caused significant losses.

The ministry accused the fighters of planning to cross into Iran with external support.

“Separatist terrorist groups intended to enter the country through the western borders, with the support of the American and Zionist enemy, and carry out attacks in urban and border areas,” the statement said.

Iranian officials added that a large portion of the groups’ infrastructure had been destroyed during the operation. They also stated that security forces were cooperating with local Kurdish residents in border regions to monitor suspicious movements and prevent future attacks.

“Armed forces and intelligence units, with the cooperation of courageous Kurdish compatriots, will thwart the American-Zionist enemy’s plans for any aggression against the country’s territory,” the ministry added.

Border Officials Reject Infiltration Reports

Despite Iran’s claims, local officials in the western border region denied that any armed fighters had crossed into Iranian territory.

The governor of Qasr-e Shirin, a city near the Iraqi border, said authorities had not recorded any illegal movement of armed groups in the area.

“No report of infiltration or illegal movement of armed groups has been registered in this part of the border,” the governor said, according to Iranian media.

He also dismissed social media reports claiming that fighters had entered the country, saying they had “no factual basis.”

Kurdish Regional Government Denies Involvement

Leaders in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region also rejected accusations that Kurdish groups were involved in cross-border attacks.

Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, said the autonomous region would not participate in any military escalation.

A spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) also denied claims that Kurdish authorities were supporting armed groups targeting Iran.

“Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government denies reports claiming it is involved in plans to arm Kurdish opposition groups and send them into Iran,” the spokesperson said. “The Kurdistan Regional Government is not part of any campaign to expand war or tensions in the region.”

Rising Tensions After Regional Strikes

The reports come amid heightened regional tensions following joint Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran. In response, Iran and allied Shiite militias launched missile and drone attacks targeting Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.

The strikes reportedly focused on Erbil, the regional capital, where explosions, air-raid sirens and missile interceptions were reported.

The Kurdistan Region hosts several Iranian Kurdish opposition groups that have long operated in exile.

Regional Reactions and U.S. Position

Turkey also weighed in on the issue, saying it was closely monitoring the activities of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), an Iranian Kurdish opposition group linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

“The activities of groups that fuel ethnic separatism, such as the terrorist organization PJAK, negatively affect not only Iran's security but also the overall peace and stability of the region,” Turkey’s defense ministry said during a briefing in Ankara.

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rejected claims that Washington intended to arm Kurdish forces against Iran.

“All I would say is none of our objectives are premised on the support or the arming of any particular force,” he said during a briefing.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also dismissed reports that the U.S. administration was considering supplying weapons to Kurdish fighters to spark an uprising inside Iran, calling the claims unfounded.

Kurdish Groups and the Broader Conflict

Speculation about the role of Kurdish groups in the broader conflict has grown in recent days. Earlier reports suggested that several Kurdish factions based in Iraq might have formed a coalition preparing for possible military operations near Iran’s northwestern border.

However, Kurdish factions have publicly denied launching or planning attacks.

Kurds are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Middle East, primarily living across Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria. Estimates suggest that between 7 million and 15 million Kurds live in Iran, representing roughly 8% to 17% of the country’s population.

Several Kurdish political organizations, including Komala and the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), have historically advocated greater political rights and regional autonomy within Iran. Other groups, such as PJAK, have promoted broader political change and Kurdish self-determination.

Analysis

The conflicting claims surrounding the alleged strike highlight the fragile security situation along Iran’s western borders. While Tehran portrays the operation as a defensive action against armed infiltration, Kurdish regional authorities strongly deny any involvement in cross-border attacks.

The situation also reflects the complex geopolitical dynamics of the region, where ethnic movements, regional powers and international actors intersect. Kurdish groups have long played a sensitive role in Middle Eastern politics, often balancing local aspirations for autonomy with pressure from neighboring states concerned about separatist movements.

As tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel continue to escalate, any development involving Kurdish groups could significantly impact regional stability and potentially open another front in an already volatile conflict.