Kurds Open a Second Front Inside Iran
PJAK militia crosses into NW Iran — first ground incursion of the war
At 22:46 local time on Day 5, Kurdish Iranian militias (PJAK, KDPI, Komala) launched a coordinated ground offensive from Iraqi Kurdistan into Iran's West Azerbaijan and Kurdistan provinces. Thousands of fighters crossed the border, confirmed by a US official to Axios and Fox News. This is the first ground incursion into Iranian territory during the entire conflict. The IRGC, already degraded by 5 days of air strikes and stretched across a multi-front war, must now defend a rear-area ground insurgency simultaneously. Iran's Supreme National Security Council convened in emergency session. ISW: 'This could be the most strategically significant development of Day 5.'
Key facts
- •Thousands of PJAK/KDPI fighters cross into NW Iran from Iraqi Kurdistan
- •First ground incursion into Iranian territory of the conflict
- •US official confirms to Axios and Fox News
- •IRGC emergency redeployment ordered from Zagros battalions
- •Iran Supreme National Security Council in emergency session
- •ISW: most strategically significant development of Day 5
Timeline
Mojtaba Khamenei named Supreme Leader -- IRGC attention on Tehran
PJAK/KDPI forces mass at Iraqi Kurdistan border
Kurdish militia ground offensive crosses into NW Iran
US official confirms offensive to Axios and Fox News
Iran SNSC convenes emergency session