{"id":14240,"date":"2026-03-07T14:03:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-07T14:03:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=14240"},"modified":"2026-03-07T14:03:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-07T14:03:33","slug":"iranian-kurd-leader-in-iraq-says-ground-operation-into-iran-highly-likely-kurds-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=14240","title":{"rendered":"Iranian Kurd leader in Iraq says ground operation into Iran \u2018highly likely\u2019 | Kurds News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<p class=\"article__subhead\"><em>Babaseikh Hosseini tells Al Jazeera that \u2018there is a strong probability of action\u2019, as the IRGC announces strikes on rebel targets in Iraq\u2019s semi-autonomous Kurdish region.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><button class=\"article-listen-container\" aria-labelledby=\"listen-text listen-duration\" data-testid=\"listen-to-article-button\"><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article-listen-container__text\" data-testid=\"listen-to-article-text\">Listen to this article<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u00a0|\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"article-listen-container__duration\">4 mins<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/button><button tabindex=\"0\" class=\"tooltip-accessible_trigger\"><svg class=\"icon icon--info icon--main-grey-dark icon--16 listen-to-article-tooltip__icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\"><title>info<\/title><path class=\"icon-main-color\" d=\"M12 0a12 12 0 1 0 0 24 12 12 0 0 0 0-24Zm-.226 3.225a2.039 2.039 0 0 1 2.155 1.924v.193a1.998 1.998 0 0 1-2.155 2.149 2.029 2.029 0 0 1-2.146-2.15 2.039 2.039 0 0 1 1.955-2.122h.193l-.002.006Zm3.227 15.525a.75.75 0 0 1-.752.75H9.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.75h.748V12h-.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.751h3a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.752v6.75h.75a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.749L15 18.75Z\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"byline byline--single-avatar\">\n<div class=\"avatars-container\">\n<div class=\"responsive-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2017-06-08T131939Z_1189275883_RC11B0FE7F20_RTRMADP_3_GULF-QATAR-JAZEERA-1714943623.jpg?resize=96%2C96&amp;quality=80 96w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 96px) 96px, 96px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-dates\">\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Published On 7 Mar 2026<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">7 Mar 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share\" data-testid=\"rich-share\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__button-wrapper\"><button class=\"rich-share__button row\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><\/p>\n<p>Click here to share on social media<\/p>\n<p><svg class=\"icon icon--share2 icon--primary icon--16 \" viewbox=\"0 0 20 16\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><title>share2<\/title><path fill=\"#000\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M11.688 9.048c-.659 0-1.252.282-1.673.733l-4.92-2.45c.016-.115.028-.232.028-.352 0-.117-.011-.23-.027-.343l4.913-2.423a2.285 2.285 0 0 0 1.68.739C12.964 4.952 14 3.899 14 2.6 14 1.302 12.965.25 11.688.25S9.377 1.302 9.377 2.601c0 .117.01.23.027.343L4.49 5.367a2.285 2.285 0 0 0-1.68-.739C1.536 4.628.5 5.681.5 6.979c0 1.299 1.035 2.35 2.312 2.35.659 0 1.252-.281 1.673-.731l4.92 2.45a2.357 2.357 0 0 0-.029.351c0 1.299 1.035 2.351 2.312 2.351S14 12.698 14 11.399s-1.035-2.35-2.312-2.35Z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"rich-share__social-text\">Share<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"google-preferred-source\"><button class=\"google-preferred-source__button\" aria-label=\"Add Al Jazeera on Google\" data-testid=\"google-preferred-source-button\"><svg class=\"icon icon--plus2 icon--primary icon--12 google-preferred-source__add-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><title>plus2<\/title><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M10.571 13.429H3.43c-.405 0-.744-.137-1.018-.411A1.382 1.382 0 0 1 2 12c0-.405.137-.744.41-1.018.275-.274.614-.41 1.019-.41h7.142V3.428c0-.405.137-.744.411-1.018C11.256 2.137 11.595 2 12 2s.744.137 1.018.41c.274.275.41.614.41 1.019v7.142h7.143c.405 0 .744.137 1.018.411.274.274.411.613.411 1.018s-.137.744-.41 1.018c-.274.274-.614.41-1.019.41H13.43v7.143c0 .405-.137.744-.411 1.018-.274.274-.613.411-1.018.411s-.744-.137-1.018-.41a1.382 1.382 0 0 1-.41-1.019V13.43Z\"\/><\/svg><svg class=\"icon icon--google icon--primary icon--16 google-preferred-source__google-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 17 16\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><title>google<\/title><g fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-path=\"url(#a)\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"><path fill=\"#4285F4\" d=\"M16.18 8.181c0-.567-.051-1.112-.145-1.636H8.5v3.094h4.305a3.68 3.68 0 0 1-1.596 2.415v2.007h2.585c1.513-1.393 2.386-3.443 2.386-5.88Z\"\/><path fill=\"#34A853\" d=\"M8.5 16c2.16 0 3.971-.717 5.295-1.939l-2.586-2.007c-.716.48-1.633.764-2.709.764-2.083 0-3.847-1.407-4.476-3.298H1.35v2.072A7.997 7.997 0 0 0 8.501 16Z\"\/><path fill=\"#FBBC05\" d=\"M4.024 9.519c-.16-.48-.251-.993-.251-1.52s.09-1.04.25-1.52V4.406H1.352A7.997 7.997 0 0 0 .5 8c0 1.29.31 2.513.85 3.593l2.674-2.073Z\"\/><path fill=\"#EA4335\" d=\"M8.5 3.182c1.175 0 2.23.403 3.058 1.196l2.295-2.294C12.467.793 10.656 0 8.5 0a7.997 7.997 0 0 0-7.149 4.407L4.024 6.48C4.653 4.59 6.417 3.182 8.5 3.182Z\"\/><\/g><defs><clippath id=\"a\"><path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M.5 0h16v16H.5z\"\/><\/clippath><\/defs><\/svg><span class=\"google-preferred-source__text\">Add Al Jazeera on Google<\/span><\/button><button tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"See more of Al Jazeera\u2019s trusted journalism by adding us as a preferred source on Google.\" class=\"tooltip-accessible_trigger\"><svg class=\"icon icon--info icon--primary icon--16 google-preferred-source__info-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><title>info<\/title><path class=\"icon-main-color\" d=\"M12 0a12 12 0 1 0 0 24 12 12 0 0 0 0-24Zm-.226 3.225a2.039 2.039 0 0 1 2.155 1.924v.193a1.998 1.998 0 0 1-2.155 2.149 2.029 2.029 0 0 1-2.146-2.15 2.039 2.039 0 0 1 1.955-2.122h.193l-.002.006Zm3.227 15.525a.75.75 0 0 1-.752.75H9.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.75h.748V12h-.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.751h3a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.752v6.75h.75a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.749L15 18.75Z\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\">\n<p>The leader of an Iranian Kurdish nationalist group based in northern Iraq\u2019s semi-autonomous Kurdish region has told Al Jazeera that it is \u201chighly likely\u201d that Iranian Kurds will stage a cross-border ground operation into Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Babasheikh Hosseini, the secretary-general of the Khabat Organisation of Iranian Kurdistan, said on Friday that there was no operation \u201cat this point\u201d but the United States had made contact with the group and it was considering a campaign.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-on\">\n<h2 class=\"more-on__heading\">Recommended Stories<!-- --> <\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list of 4 items<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p>\u201cWe have been planning for a long time, and now that conditions are more favourable, there is a strong probability of action,\u201d Hosseini told Al Jazeera from the Kurdish region.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have yet to reach a decisive decision, but it is highly likely we will move forward with a ground operation,\u201d Hosseini added.<\/p>\n<p>The rebel leader concluded: \u201cThe Americans have contacted us through various channels but until now, we have not met directly \u2013 but they contacted us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday that it had targeted \u201cseparatist groups\u201d in the Kurdish region, as the US-Israel war on Iran entered its second week.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThree locations of separatist groups in the Iraqi region (of Kurdistan) were hit \u2026 this morning,\u201d the IRGC said in a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf separatist groups in the region [of Kurdistan] make any move against Iran\u2019s territorial integrity, we will crush them.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"iraqi-territory-must-not-a-launching-point\">\u2018Iraqi territory must not a launching point\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>The reported attack was carried out hours after the Iraqi government and the semi-autonomous Kurdish Regional Government said on Friday that Iraq must not be a launchpad for attacks against neighbouring countries, following reports that fighters might attempt to cross into Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Kurdistan\u2019s regional president Nechirvan Barzani agreed in a phone call \u201cthat Iraqi territory must not be used as a launching point for attacks against neighbouring countries\u201d, the premier\u2019s media office said.<\/p>\n<p>Tehran threatened on Friday to target \u201call the facilities\u201d of the region if exiled Kurdish Iranian fighters were allowed to enter Iran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tr-story-p1\">Israel has been bombing parts of western Iran to support Iranian Kurdish fighters, three sources familiar with Israel\u2019s talks with the factions told the Reuters news agency.<\/p>\n<p>US President Donald Trump told Reuters on Friday it would be \u201cwonderful\u201d if they crossed the border.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s wonderful that they want to do that, I\u2019d be all for it,\u201d the president said.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"multiple-attacks-in-iraq\">Multiple attacks in Iraq<\/h2>\n<p>The IRGC statement also came hours after drones reportedly struck airports and oil facilities in Iraq on Friday, and US-led troops shot down several drones over the Kurdish capital, Erbil, in the north of the country. A drone also targeted the Erbil Arjaan by Rotana hotel in Iraq\u2019s Kurdistan region, security sources told Reuters.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, late on Friday, Baghdad International Airport, which houses a military base and a US diplomatic facility, \u201ccame under a series of attacks\u201d with drones and missiles, a security official told the AFP news agency.<\/p>\n<p>Another security source confirmed there was a drone attack followed by a fire at the airport.<\/p>\n<p>In the southern province of Basra, an oil facility housing foreign energy companies came under attack twice.<\/p>\n<p>A security official in Basra told AFP late on Friday that \u201ctwo drones were shot down over the Burjesia oil complex, but a third got through\u201d and hit the site.<\/p>\n<p>The US embassy in Baghdad said on Friday that Iran-aligned fighter groups may seek to target hotels frequented by foreigners in the Kurdish region, according to a post on X.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Babaseikh Hosseini tells Al Jazeera that \u2018there is a strong probability of action\u2019, as the IRGC announces strikes on rebel targets in Iraq\u2019s semi-autonomous Kurdish region. Listen to this article\u00a0|\u00a04 mins info Published On 7 Mar 20267 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share plus2googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo The leader [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14055,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14240"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14240\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}