CIA and Mossad back Kurdish groups to hasten fall of Iranian regime – Axios

Two U.S. and Israeli officials and a third source familiar with the matter said the Kurdish militias are receiving assistance from the Mossad and the CIA.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Several Iranian Kurdish militant factions are positioning fighters along the Iran-Iraq border and weighing a possible ground incursion into northwestern Iran as the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Tehran continues, according to U.S. and Israeli officials and a senior official from one of the factions, Axios reported.

The groups involved include dissident Kurdish Iranian organizations based in Iraq that recently formed the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan.

Five factions announced the alliance six days before the war began, declaring a joint effort aimed at confronting Iran’s regime.

According to a source close to one of the factions, the groups maintain thousands of fighters in border areas and have shifted hundreds of members from camps on the Iraqi side into Iranian territory in recent weeks as part of preparations for a potential offensive.

Two U.S. and Israeli officials and a third source familiar with the matter said the Kurdish militias are receiving assistance from the Mossad and the CIA.

A U.S. official said the strategy under discussion involves seizing a defined area inside Iran’s Kurdish region in order to challenge the regime and potentially trigger wider unrest.

“The war started with a kinetic phase by the U.S. and Israeli militaries, but as the war continues there will be other efforts by the Mossad and the CIA,” an Israeli official said.

CNN previously reported that the CIA was involved in the plan. A second U.S. official said the concept of using Kurdish Iranian factions to open a northern front originated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Mossad, with the CIA joining later.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the issue during a closed-door briefing to Congress Tuesday, saying: “We’re not arming the Kurds. But you never know with the Israelis.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday that President Trump has not approved any proposal to back a Kurdish militia ground attack against Iran.

Diplomatic contacts have also taken place. Axios reported that Trump spoke Sunday with Iraqi Kurdish leaders Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani regarding the conflict and possible future developments.

According to a U.S. official, both leaders expressed caution about participating in a ground invasion.

CNN also reported that Trump held a separate conversation with Mustafa Hijri, leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the possibility of Kurdish militant activity during a Wednesday call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

“The Iraqi prime minister emphasized that the Iraqi government will under no circumstances allow any threat to be directed at Iran from Iraqi territory,” the Iranian foreign ministry said.

Meanwhile, Iranian news agency Tasnim reported Wednesday that the city of Bukan in northwestern Iran near the Iraqi border was under heavy bombing.

Kurdish factions said Wednesday they had not begun a ground assault, though a Kurdish source said such an operation could begin later this week if Washington gives a “green light.”