The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran has placed the Kurdish opposition parties of Iran in an extraordinarily precarious position. Based in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish Region, these groups now find themselves caught between Tehran's relentless military strikes and Washington's ambiguous promises of support. Their leaders insist they have not received any American or European military assistance, even as speculation swirls about their potential role in toppling the Iranian government. Main Developments Since the US-Israel strikes on Iran began on February 28, the military and political assets of Iranian Kurdish groups in Iraq have come under heavy attack. Iranian drones and missiles have repeatedly targeted their bases, with one group, the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, reporting that 13 of its fighters have been killed in these strikes. The party's political bureau member, Kako Alyar, told Al Jazeera that his group maintains sleeper cells and networks inside Iran that participated in antigovernment protests in December and January until they were violently suppressed. Rebaz Sharifi, a leader of the opposition Kurdistan Freedom Party of Iran, estimates his party's bases and positions have been attacked more than 80 times since the war began. He rejected social media claims that his group received weapons or military assistance from the US or other countries. Iranian state media have acknowledged attacks on "anti-Iran separatist forces" in remote areas near the Iraq-Iran border, and reports emerged on Friday of fresh strikes on bases in northern Iraq. Read also: Sri Lanka Executes Death Sentences for Easter Bombing Failures The Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government has asked these parties to refrain from activities that could harm local security, especially given Iran's response. Within hours of the US-Israel attacks on Iran in February, retaliatory strikes on US assets in the Kurdish region began, dragging the area into the conflict. Economic targets, including oil fields, have also been hit in suspected drone and missile attacks. Iraqi groups linked to Iran have faced US strikes as well, including after attacks on Saudi Arabia blamed on these groups this week. Background Iranian Kurdish groups have operated from bases in northern Iraq for decades, with their presence flourishing after Iraq's defeat in the 1990-1991 Gulf War, which led to a no-fly zone and self-rule by the Kurdistan Regional Government. The US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 further insulated these groups, allowing them to develop military formations and organisational structures both in Iraq and inside Kurdish areas of Iran. On February 22, 2026, five Kurdish groups based in Iraq and western Iran formed the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan, a response to the suppression of protests in Iran. These groups, reportedly with thousands of fighters between them, have long opposed Tehran from their border bases. Kurds make up about 10 percent of Iran's population, and both US President Donald Trump and Israel have suggested that arming these fighters could tip the balance of power inside Iran. Trump has flip-flopped on the role of Kurdish groups in the US-Israel campaign. There have been reports of US intelligence working with Kurdish fighters, and the heavy attacks along the Iraq-Iran border have led some to interpret this as a sign Washington might be serious about ground operations inside Iran by these groups. However, Iranian opposition leaders remain wary of US intentions, suggesting they have not seen any real intention of regime change. Why It Matters The situation poses a serious dilemma for the Kurdish opposition. On one hand, they are being hit hard by Iranian military operations, with their bases and networks under constant threat. On the other, they must balance their own ambitions with the security of the Kurdish Region in Iraq, which is already caught in the crossfire of the broader US-Iran conflict. As Sharifi put it, "We have thousands of fighters… We could have done more inside Iran, but we place the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region at the top of our priorities, and we do not want to harm the Kurds in Iraq." The stakes extend beyond the Kurdish groups themselves. Iraq as a whole has come under multiple attacks from pro-Iran groups and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while the US has carried out strikes against these Iraqi groups. The Kurdish Region's involvement in the war could escalate further, drawing in more actors and increasing instability across the region. The question of whether Washington will actually arm Kurdish fighters remains unresolved, with leaders like Alyar stating plainly that they have received no such assistance. Iranian opposition fighters are sceptical about the success of any large-scale military operation in Kurdish areas of Iran, calling it a hugely risky endeavour likely to result in heavy casualties. As Alyar noted, "At the present time, there are r