Iraqi Kurdish forces on 'standby' for cross-border operations into Iran

Al Jazeera reports that US officials have asked Iraqi Kurdish authorities — specifically the Peshmerga command in Erbil — to assist in cross-border military operations targeting IRGC forces in western Iran. Iraqi Kurdish forces are currently on 'standby' pending a final decision. The Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) faces a dilemma: (1) Cooperation with the US would mean directly opposing the IRGC — Iran has leverage over the KRG through economic ties and proximity; (2) Refusal may cost KRG US military support against PMF (Iraqi Shia militia) threats. The Iraqi federal government in Baghdad has condemned any cross-border operation from Iraqi territory as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty. PMF has already fired rockets at Kurdish positions in Sulaymaniyah in warning. If Iraqi Peshmerga join the operation, the Kurdish front in NW Iran becomes a major sustained ground campaign rather than a militia incursion. US officials declined to comment on the reported request.