'Ready to fight' but lacking means, Iraqi Kurds targeted by Iran

Iranian Kurdish opposition groups, operating from exile in Iraqi Kurdistan as a united coalition since February 2025, are calling for democratic change in Iran but remain vulnerable to Iranian military strikes. The groups have issued a statement urging Iran's oppressed minorities to support a transition away from the current regime, but face limited capacity to mount sustained opposition. Iran has killed at least five Kurdish fighters in strikes against these exiled parties since the conflict began, demonstrating Tehran's reach across the border. These Iranian Kurdish groups, which have been based in Iraq for decades, lack the military resources to effectively counter Iranian attacks while attempting to organize political resistance. The targeting reflects Iran's ongoing determination to suppress Kurdish nationalist movements that pose a challenge to its authority.