Iran Sends Special Forces Into Iraqi Kurdistan in Escalating Campaign Against Kurdish Opposition

Key Facts

Published: August 4, 2026 Location: Jerusalem Source: Israel Hayom, Reuters, The Associated Press

• Iran’s 23rd Airborne Special Forces Brigade reportedly carried out 14 operations in the Iraqi Kurdistan provinces of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.
• Iranian forces allegedly killed and captured Kurdish opposition members and abducted two operatives during a recent raid.
• The operations followed earlier discussions about using Kurdish opposition forces in a potential campaign against the Islamic regime in Tehran.

Iranian commander says elite troops conducted 14 cross-border operations, killing and capturing Kurdish dissidents

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – Iran has deployed regular army special forces into northern Iraq, carrying out a series of ground raids against Iranian Kurdish opposition groups as Tehran moves to eliminate forces it views as a potential threat to the Islamic Republic.

Units from Iran’s 23rd Airborne Special Forces Brigade conducted 14 operations during the past two months in the Iraqi Kurdistan provinces of Sulaymaniyah and Erbil, according to Iranian Army adviser Brig. Gen. Mojtaba Jafari.

Jafari said several of the raids occurred in recent days, even as Iran was engaged in negotiations with the United States. Iranian troops reportedly killed several Kurdish opposition fighters, captured others and abducted two Kurdish operatives from Sulaymaniyah on Sunday. He claimed that Iranian forces suffered no casualties.

The operations represent a significant escalation because they were reportedly conducted by Iran’s regular army rather than the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or its Quds Force, which traditionally oversees Tehran’s military and covert operations beyond Iran’s borders.

The 23rd Airborne Special Forces Brigade, also known as the Takavar Brigade, is believed to be the Iranian Army’s largest special operations unit. Originally formed for reconnaissance and commando missions, it later developed airborne capabilities and reportedly operated on a limited basis during the Syrian civil war.

Kurdish Forces Viewed as Potential Threat to Tehran

Iranian Kurdish groups based in northern Iraq emerged as a possible ground force against Tehran earlier this year as the United States and Israel intensified military pressure on the Islamic Republic.

Reuters reported in March that Iranian Kurdish militias had consulted American officials about a possible operation against Iranian security forces in western Iran. Kurdish groups requested military and intelligence assistance as they considered creating conditions for opponents of the Islamic regime to rise against Tehran.

The Associated Press also reported that Kurdish dissident organizations had moved fighters toward the Iranian border and were preparing for a potential cross-border campaign. The groups, which possess thousands of trained fighters and extensive combat experience against the Islamic State, are widely regarded as one of the most organized elements of the Iranian opposition.

Although no major Kurdish offensive ultimately materialized, Tehran appears determined to destroy or intimidate the groups before they can become an organized military threat.

The raids also place Iraq in an increasingly precarious position. Baghdad reached an agreement with Iran in 2023 requiring Kurdish opposition groups to be disarmed and relocated away from the border. Their bases were closed and their movements restricted, but the fighters did not surrender their weapons.

Iran Tightens Its Grip Beyond Its Borders

Iran already exercises considerable influence inside Iraq through heavily armed Shiite militias that receive financial and military support from Tehran. Reuters estimates that roughly 10 factions operating under the Islamic Resistance in Iraq collectively command approximately 50,000 fighters and possess missiles, drones and anti-aircraft weapons.

The deployment of Iranian soldiers into Iraqi Kurdistan, however, crosses another threshold. Rather than relying entirely upon proxy forces, Tehran is now reportedly using its own commandos to pursue political opponents across an international border.

The campaign underscores the Iranian regime’s continuing fear of internal revolt, particularly among ethnic minorities that have endured decades of repression under the Islamic Republic. It also demonstrates Tehran’s willingness to violate Iraqi sovereignty while diplomatic negotiations with Washington remain underway.

For Iraq’s Kurdish region, the danger is growing. Kurdish leaders must now contend not only with Iranian missiles and Iran-backed militias, but with Iranian ground forces operating inside territory that is officially part of Iraq.

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