According to reporting by CBN correspondent George Thomas, Kurdish Peshmerga who played a key role in defeating ISIS are now openly saying they are prepared to confront the Iranian regime.
Kurdistan
According to reporting by CBN correspondent George Thomas, Kurdish Peshmerga who played a key role in defeating ISIS are now openly saying they are prepared to confront the Iranian regime.
George Thomas’s report from northern Iraq paints a picture of battle-hardened Peshmerga units — the same forces that fought side by side with American troops against ISIS — shifting their focus toward Tehran. Many of these Peshmerga belong to Kurdish opposition groups whose bases and headquarters are located inside Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, especially in the mountainous areas along the border with Iran.
CBN visited one Peshmerga family housing compound that had just been hit by an Iranian rocket attack. The strike killed one Peshmerga and wounded two others. Twisted metal, broken concrete, and walls full of bullet holes were still clearly visible.
Peshmerga Commander Ruba Laylakhi told CBN: “Every time I look at this scene, my desire to take revenge on those who killed my friend grows stronger. We will keep fighting.”
She said the Iranian regime never stops its terrorist activities and continues to target Kurdish bases in the border area.
Most of these Peshmerga come from the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), a group that has opposed the Iranian government for years and keeps its positions in the mountainous parts of the Kurdistan Region right along the border.
A 21-year-old Peshmerga nicknamed “Sniper,” whose name is Djwar, spoke plainly to CBN: “I’m not afraid of dying. To be honest, it would be an honor to give my life for my people and my homeland.”
Although they haven’t fully mobilized yet, the Peshmerga made it clear they are not sitting still. Commander Laylakhi said the United States and Israel should continue weakening the regime, and that the Kurdish Peshmerga are ready to work with them — as long as they get real support.
Another commander, Yadhar Mmawlodi, told CBN that bringing down such a powerful regime will need serious international help. He called for a no-fly zone over western Iran so Peshmerga forces can move more easily across the border.
Karim Parvizi, a member of the leadership of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran
Earlier this year, five Kurdish armed groups formed a new coalition to challenge Iran’s Islamic Republic. Karim Parwizi from the Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) told CBN that the regime has lost all legitimacy and has become a major source of instability across the Middle East and beyond.
Parwizi added an important warning: outside military force alone won’t be enough. He pointed out that foreign troops might topple the regime, but they would likely fail to run the country afterward — just like what happened in Afghanistan. According to him, real and lasting change can only happen if the people inside Iran, including Kurds, Turks, Arabs, Baluch, and other ethnic groups, stand together.
The KDPI is one of the oldest Kurdish political parties in Iran. It was founded in 1945 in the city of Mahabad and has more than eight decades of experience opposing different Iranian governments — from the Pahlavi monarchy all the way to the Islamic Republic. The party has consistently fought for Kurdish rights and for a democratic, federal Iran.
Djwar summed up the fighters’ determination: “Personally, I’m ready with all my heart and soul. If there’s a real plan to free western Iran, count me in.”
Overall, these statements show how frustrated these Kurdish groups have become with Iran’s repeated cross-border attacks. With the hard-earned experience they gained fighting ISIS and Iranian-backed militias, they believe they can put that knowledge to use inside Iran — but only if they have enough international support.
Still, the risks are serious. Any direct move across the border could bring a harsh response from Iran, putting both Peshmerga and civilians in danger. For now, these groups remain on high alert, watching and waiting from their bases in the border areas of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.