Iran has been carrying out ballistic missile attacks on Israel and is also seeking to create a crisis in Iraq. One of Iran’s key strategies is not to lose its hold over Iraq – which it has maintained for many years. As such, not only has it been attacking Israel but also striking at Kurdish Iranian opposition groups in Iraq.
For instance, on Monday, Reuters noted that according to security sources, “Two drone strikes hit an Iranian Kurdish opposition camp east of Iraq’s Erbil,” adding that “no casualties were reported.”
It also said that “there were two drone attacks on Sunday near Iraq’s Sulaimaniya, one targeting a base of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces and the other striking a camp housing Iranian Kurdish opposition groups west of the city, according to security sources.”
Iraq finding itself at center of conflict as Iran creates new frontline
Iraq had closed its airspace during the Iranian attacks on Israel. Iraq often finds itself at the center of the conflict, not only geographically but also because Iran seeks to create a frontline in Iraq. For instance, in the wake of American and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, the Iranian regime mobilized Iranian-backed militias in Iraq to attack Kurdish and US targets. These groups carried out at least 800 attacks in the autonomous Kurdistan Region.
In many cases, they targeted Kurdish opposition groups such as the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), and Komala. These are among six groups that joined together to coordinate dissident Kurdish activities in Iran. The other groups in the arrangement include the far-left Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) and Khabat, a more conservative Kurdish group.
Kurdish opposition network targeted
The Kurds in Iran are one of the important minority groups in the country. While millions live in Iran, some of the dissident groups have fled to Iraq. They maintain a Kurdish opposition network in the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq. Iran has long targeted these groups, seeking to have their bases and facilities closed. Iran used the cover of the recent war to organize attacks on the group. The regime sometimes uses missiles and drones launched from Iran itself. Sometimes, the attacks are launched by Shi’ite pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.
In the last two months, new Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has sought to encourage the pro-Iranian militias to hand over weapons to the state. He has seen only limited shifts in this regard.
For instance, the large armed group linked to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has handed over weapons. But it is the least dangerous of the Iranian proxy groups because it largely answers only to Sadr. The most dangerous groups are groups such as Kataib Hezbollah or Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba. Those will likely keep their weapons and continue to weaken Iraq by serving Iranian interests. These groups will also threaten to target US forces and Kuwait and Saudi Arabia if tensions grow.
Over the past months, they have already attacked US diplomatic facilities in Baghdad, kidnapped and then released United States journalist Shelly Kittelson, and targeted the US consulate in Erbil. They have also targeted Kuwait. It remains to be seen whether these groups will be operationalized by Iran again. What is clear is that Iraq is now on edge once again due to the conflict in the region.