Iran is bombing Kurdish forces in Iraq while launching its 19th wave of strikes on Israel, and the war just keeps expanding

Iran has launched operations against Kurdish groups in neighboring Iraq while also unleashing its 19th wave of missile and drone attacks against Israel and United States assets across the Middle East. This dual-front strategy marks a major escalation on the sixth day of a war that has already spread across much of the region.

The decision to target Iranian Kurdish groups in Iraq points to a larger strategic move. According to Al Jazeera, these groups had been in talks with the United States, discussing how they might attack Iranian security forces in the western part of the country and what support they could expect from Washington. Iran appears to be moving to neutralize threats on its western border, particularly from groups reportedly training to mount attacks against its military.

On the ground in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, a drone strike hit an arms depot during an attack on the headquarters of an Iranian Kurdish opposition group in Dekala, injuring two fighters. Multiple blasts were also reported in Sulaimaniyah province in northern Iraq, with at least four explosions heard near Arabat, Zarkuiz, and Surdash. Local sources identified the headquarters of the Kurdistan Toilers Association, known as Komala, as a key target.

Iran’s military is fighting a two-sided battle, targeting both Kurdish opposition groups and Israeli-American forces at the same time

Iran’s state media reported that the military was targeting “anti-Iran separatist forces.” The intelligence ministry later confirmed the strikes, stating they hit posts of “separatist groups” that intended to cross through Iran’s western borders, claiming these groups sustained heavy losses. 

The ministry also said Iranian forces are working with “noble Kurds” to stop an “Israeli-American” plan to attack Iranian soil. Days before the strikes, five Kurdish rebel groups had quietly united and were personally contacted by Trump, a development that likely accelerated Iran’s decision to act against these groups on its western border.

At the same time, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced its latest strikes against Israel and US assets. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the country’s air defense system intercepted two drones over the western Galilee region. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted at least three drones, and Qatar ordered the evacuation of homes near the US Embassy in Doha.

This latest round of strikes comes nearly a week into the US-Israel war against Iran. At least 1,045 people have been killed across Iran since Saturday, according to Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency. The conflict has also taken a devastating toll on civilians, including a deadly school attack that drew blame from all sides. The US and Israel have continued their attacks, with explosions hitting Tehran and the Kurdish cities of Sanandaj, Saqqez, and Bukan.

The Israeli military confirmed a new wave of attacks, stating its air force “attacked and destroyed” a ballistic missile platform preparing to launch from Qom. US Central Command also said it aimed to “eliminate” Iran’s mobile missile launch capabilities.

In response, Iran has activated its air defenses. A large number of Tehran residents have chosen to evacuate the capital, particularly those with homes outside the city. Those who remain are living with “concerns, frustrations and anxiety,” as massive blasts and shockwaves continue to hit the city.