Leaked plan for Kurdish invasion of Iran collapses amid Turkish pressure, rising tensions - report

An American and Israeli-backed plan for a Kurdish ground offensive against Iran reportedly collapsed after leaks prompted Tehran to boost its defenses, according to Israeli Channel 12.

Washington’s Arab allies and Turkey are said to have persuaded President Donald Trump to call off the operation at the outset of the war. The plan envisioned tens of thousands of Kurdish fighters crossing from Iraq into Iran under heavy U.S. and Israeli air cover.

In a later phase, Kurdish populations inside Iran would have been armed to join the offensive against the ayatollah regime.

A report in the Times of Israel said American and Israeli planners aimed to “break the fear barrier” among Iran’s opposition, which has remained largely subdued since the ayatollah regime killed tens of thousands of protesters in January.

Mossad chief David Barnea reportedly presented the Kurdish invasion plan to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed it with senior U.S. officials. However, Israeli military intelligence took a more pessimistic view, describing the plan as unrealistic, “imaginary,” and “full of holes.”

In early March, reports emerged that the CIA and Washington were arming Kurdish groups to overthrow the ayatollah regime in Tehran. Kurdish officials interviewed by Channel 12 said there was broad consensus among Kurdish factions to “cooperate to bring down the regime.”

The plan was soon leaked in U.S. media, and Fox News reported as early as March 4 that a Kurdish ground offensive had already begun. Kurdish groups swiftly denied the claims, but the element of surprise was lost. Tehran responded by boosting its defenses and targeting Kurdish forces in western Iran and neighboring Iraq.

In February, merely days before the Iran war started, the Kurdish leader Kader Puri called on the Jewish state to support the Kurds, arguing that it served Israel’s national interests. He further stressed that the Kurds played a central role in transforming the Middle East into a pro-American and pro-Israel orbit. 

“We are talking about a new Middle East with four key countries: Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and Iran. The Kurds are in all of them. You are aware of the existential danger posed by Iran, but I tell you with confidence: Iran will not fall from missiles from outside. No matter how much Israel or the US bombs it or what advanced weapons are used, Iran will only fall from within," Puri stated. 

However, leaks were not the only reason that Washington called off the Kurdish military ground offensive. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has established close ties with Trump, warned the American president that Turkey would not accept Kurdish independence anywhere in the Middle East. In addition, Arab Gulf states warned that a Kurdish uprising could lead to ethnic conflicts and destabilize the Middle East. 

While Kurdish groups oppose the ayatollah regime, there were internal disagreements over whether their forces were capable of bringing it down in Tehran. This uncertainty led them to seek “political guarantees,” along with military support from Washington, according to the report.

President Trump ultimately assessed the plan as “too dangerous” and canceled it.