Trump Urges Iranian Kurds to Attack Iran as US-Israel War Widens and Regime Pressure Mounts
By: Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.comMarch 6, 2026 – 03:45 AM EST Update In a bold escalation of rhetoric and strategy amid the seventh day of the
By: Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.comMarch 6, 2026 – 03:45 AM EST Update
In a bold escalation of rhetoric and strategy amid the seventh day of the US-Israel-Iran war, President Donald Trump has publicly encouraged Iranian Kurdish forces—primarily based in northern Iraq—to launch attacks against Iran. The statement, made in interviews and confirmed through multiple channels, signals a clear US push to activate internal opposition groups and ethnic minorities to intensify pressure on Tehran’s regime, following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and heavy bombardment of Iranian military infrastructure.
Trump’s Direct Call to Action
Speaking to Reuters on March 5, Trump expressed strong support for potential Kurdish offensives: “I think it’s wonderful that they want to do that; I’d be all for it.” He described the prospect of Iranian Kurdish militias crossing from Iraq into Iran as a positive development that could help weaken Tehran’s control. Sources indicate Trump held phone conversations with key Kurdish leaders, including Masoud Barzani (Kurdistan Democratic Party), Bafel Talabani (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan), and Mustafa Hijri (Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, or KDPI), to discuss coordination, potential US support, and insurgent operations against Iranian security forces.
The encouragement aligns with broader administration efforts to avoid a full-scale US ground invasion while pursuing regime change or significant regime weakening. Trump has repeatedly stated the US is “not mulling” large troop deployments into Iran but is open to backing “insurgent efforts” by domestic opposition. Reports from Axios, The Washington Post, and others detail ongoing discussions about arming Kurdish groups, providing intelligence, or offering air cover to stretch Iranian forces thin across multiple fronts.
Kurdish Forces: Players and Capabilities
Iranian Kurds, numbering around 8-10 million and concentrated in northwestern provinces like Kurdistan, West Azerbaijan, and Kermanshah, have long opposed the Islamic Republic. Groups such as the KDPI, Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), and others have waged low-level insurgencies for decades, often from bases in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. These factions formed a coalition in early 2026 to unify against Tehran.
Kurdish peshmerga-style fighters are battle-hardened from conflicts against ISIS and Iranian-backed militias. They possess light weapons, some heavier arms from past US support (during anti-ISIS operations), and knowledge of Iran’s rugged border terrain. Analysts note that while they lack the capacity for a nationwide takeover, coordinated strikes could force Iran to divert troops from central fronts, disrupt supply lines, and inspire unrest among other minorities (Azeris, Baluchis, Arabs).
Iran preemptively struck Kurdish positions in Iraq with drones and missiles, claiming to target “separatist” threats. Iranian officials warn that any Kurdish incursion would face severe retaliation, labeling it foreign-backed separatism aimed at fragmenting the country.
Broader Opposition Mobilization and Regime Change Ambitions
Trump’s Kurdish outreach is part of a multi-pronged internal pressure campaign. He has urged IRGC members to defect with promises of “total immunity” and called on opposition groups to rise up. In interviews, he insisted the US “must have a role” in selecting Iran’s next leader, dismissing potential successors like Mojtaba Khamenei as “unacceptable.”
This fits the shifting narrative of the war: initial strikes targeted nuclear sites, missiles, and air defenses; later phases degraded the navy and proxies; now, emphasis falls on internal destabilization to achieve de facto regime change without massive US boots on the ground. Critics, including some former officials and regional experts, warn of historical US betrayals of Kurdish allies (e.g., post-1975, 1991, 2019) and risks of prolonged chaos, civil war, or balkanization if the regime collapses abruptly.
Regional and International Reactions
Iran’s interim leadership and IRGC vow to crush any internal rebellion, hardening defenses along western borders. Azerbaijan, hit by Iranian missiles, warned of retaliation, adding to spillover risks. Gulf states quietly support pressure on Tehran but fear refugee flows or energy disruptions.
Domestically in the US, the strategy draws mixed responses—some praise it as smart proxy use, others question endgame clarity amid rising casualties and economic fallout (oil spikes, evacuations).
As airstrikes continue on Tehran and Iranian responses target Tel Aviv, the Kurdish front could open a decisive new phase. Whether it sparks widespread uprising or fizzles remains uncertain, but Trump’s explicit urging marks a high-stakes gamble in an already volatile war.
Juba Global News Network monitors updates from Reuters, Al Jazeera, The Washington Post, Axios, BBC, and others. The situation evolves rapidly—consult trusted sources for the latest. Stay informed and safe amid this unfolding crisis.
