Consultant picture of a Kurdish soldier
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
The Iran-Israel battle has escalated with the USA sinking an Iranian frigate off Sri Lanka and upping the ante in opposition to the nation and the federal government in Tehran. This comes after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28 2026.
Additionally Learn | Torpedo assault by U.S. submarine sinks Iranian frigate off Sri Lanka
Now, reviews counsel that the CIA may be in talks with Kurdish dissident teams primarily based in Iraq to attempt to overthrow the regime in Iran. Kurdish officers have reportedly mentioned that Iraqi Kurds are able to assist the U.S. in its effort in opposition to Iran.
Who’re the Kurds?
The Kurds are an Indo-European ethnic group indigenous to the mountainous area of West Asia often called ‘Kurdistan.’ With a worldwide inhabitants of 30 to 45 million individuals, they’re one of many vital stateless ethnic group.
Additionally learn | Iran-Israel battle LIVE- March 5
Unfold throughout a number of international locations
The Kurdish persons are unfold throughout a number of international locations, with Turkey having the most important inhabitants of roughly 15 to twenty million individuals. Iran has 8-12 million Kurds. Syria has roughly 1.5 million Kurds dwelling within the nation. In the meantime, Iraq has roughly 5.6 to eight million Kurdish individuals dwelling within the northern a part of the nation, the place they’ve a semi-autonomous authorities.
Wrestle for autonomy
The Kurds have lengthy confronted repression and persecution and have struggled for a separate state since earlier than World Struggle I.
The 1920 Treaty of Sèvres promised them an unbiased Kurdish state, however this was by no means ratified. The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne established borders that divided the group’s inhabitants with out offering statehood or autonomy.
Following years of battle and the 1991 Gulf Struggle, the Kurds established the Kurdistan Regional Authorities (Okay.R.G.) in Iraq, which is now a constitutionally recognised autonomous area.
Why are the Kurds in opposition to Iran?
The Kurdish inhabitants in Iran, which makes up roughly 10% of the citizenry, continuously face persecution and repression, with the Iranian regime jailing individuals for lengthy intervals of time.
The Kurds are predominantly Sunni Muslim, and inside a Shia-dominated nation, they face widespread non secular persecution.
The Iranian authorities has additionally lengthy repressed the Kurdish battle for autonomy and statehood. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps comes down closely on agitators, with the nation viewing the group as a terror menace.
Alignment with the U.S.
The Kurds and U.S. forces have continuously discovered frequent floor in opposition to mutual threats, particularly in opposition to their marketing campaign to take down ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
Following the 1991 Gulf Struggle and the 2003 Iraqi invasion, the U.S. supported the Kurds in forming the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Authorities (KRG).
Within the ongoing Israel-Iran-U.S. battle, the Kurds may be viewing a chance to take down the Iranian regime and obtain autonomy.
(With inputs from Reuters and Related Press)
Revealed – March 05, 2026 11:03 am IST