‘A chance for freedom’ – Kurdish fighters desperate to join battle against Iran

I have witnessed Iraqi and Iranian Kurdish fighters working with American forces in Iraq and Syria over many years.

The Kurds were instrumental in stopping Islamic State (IS) fighters from spreading into much of northeastern Syria and Iraq.

Could they be called again to help the West? It’s a thought that’s being widely talked about.

Iran latest: ‘Security incident’ near Cyprus RAF base

For their part, the Iranian-Kurdish militia living in neighbouring Iraq are literally chomping at the bit to cross the border and join a popular uprising against the Iranian regime.

I know this because they’ve told me.

In recent days, like the American bases, the bases of Kurdish armed groups have been struck by rockets and drones from Iran as well.

For safety, they spend as much time as possible off base as they prepare for war, which is why I met a senior political figure in the Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran, in a deserted building, in a town nestling below mountains that lead to Iran.

Karim Parwizi will command one of the armed elements preparing to cross the border.

He told me they have been planning to take up arms against Iran for years, but believe that now is the time to join the American-Israeli war.

“For many years, for decades, this regime has attacked us, killed our people, and carried out acts of genocide against us,” he said.

“Now that the regime is becoming weaker and weaker, we see this as an opportunity to finally move toward achieving our freedom.”

Iran has threatened to bomb Kurdish towns and cities over the border if they get involved.

I asked Parwizi if they’re worried about those threats.

“The regime does not need an excuse to attack us,” he replied. “For the past 47 years, they have targeted us regardless.”

He added: “Even though this is described as a conflict between the United States and Iran, we have been attacked repeatedly whether we are involved or not.

“We have lived under constant threat. So no, they do not need any justification to attack us, they have been doing it for decades.”

Share

Iran jet downed over Tehran after ‘dogfight’

How much military cooperation remains, or has even increased, between the Americans and Kurds since the war against Islamic State is the subject of some conjecture.

Officially at least, neither American nor Kurdish political leaders have indicated it has changed one way or another.

Strategic American bases and runways lie in Iraqi Kurdistan, so the US military presence here is a constant.

‘This time is different’

Zanyar, a member of the Peshmerga – as Kurdish fighters are called – told me he and others want to follow the encouragement of US President Donald Trump to Iranian civilians to rise up against the government and its security forces.

I met him in a safe house for families of the fighters actively preparing for battle.

Zanyar’s wife and infant were killed in an Iranian missile strike here four years ago – remember Iran has been attacking the Kurds on and off for years.

Crossing the border to fight the regime and its forces is now personal for him, and he, like so many others, says now is the time.

Read more:
Sky News reporter forced to take cover from rocket fire
Spain PM unafraid of Trump’s wrath – analysis

“It’s true that in the past there were moments when people tried to rise up, but the efforts were not coordinated, but this time is different,” Zanyar told me.

“You have people inside Iran who are openly dissatisfied with the regime, you have opposition groups that are more united and determined to remove it, and importantly, much of the international community now agrees that this regime must go.

“That coordination makes this moment different, and it gives us hope that this could be a real opportunity for change.”

Would a Kurdish ground incursion kickstart a nationwide uprising in Iran – or herald the start of ethnic sectarian chaos instead?

Like so much in this war, nobody is sure of the endgame.