Summary of developments in Iraq influenced by the war on Iran: August 1, 2026.
Includes: Iranian Kurdish parties in Iraq face a delicate balance; Iraq says ready to thwart attacks; Iranian drones intercepted
| Highlights from yesterday |
|
Comments |
| None. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Iranian Kurdish parties in Iraq face a delicate balance amid Iran attacks
Iranian Kurdish opposition parties have been on high alert since the United States-Israel strikes on Iran began on February 28. Their bases in the semi-autonomous Kurdish Region of Iraq and inside Iran itself have been thrust onto the front lines of the war.
The possibility of Iranian Kurdish fighters entering the conflict to topple the Iranian government has also been widely discussed. Both US President Donald Trump and Israel have suggested that arming these fighters could tip the balance of power inside Iran, where Kurds make up about 10 percent of the population.
Several leaders of these parties have told Al Jazeera they command military formations and organizational structures inside Kurdish areas in Iran, in addition to headquarters and bases in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.
Kurdish groups from both sides of the border flourished after Iraq’s defeat in the 1990-1991 Gulf War led to the creation of a no-fly zone in northern Iraq and self-rule by the Kurdistan Regional Government.
|
|
|
Iraq says ready to thwart attacks on neighboring countries
The Iraqi government has issued a statement affirming the readiness of its armed forces to “thwart any attempts at targeting neighboring countries within our regional sphere”.
The statement comes as Iran attacks Gulf countries in a bid to pressure Washington while avoiding direct confrontation with US forces.
|
|
|
Iranian drones intercepted over Iraq’s Kurdistan Region
Iran launched drone attacks on Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, with the drones reportedly intercepted, according to the Rojava news channel.
The channel published a video on Telegram that it said showed the US C-RAM air defence system intercepting and destroying Iranian one-way attack drones over Erbil.
Rojava also reported that Iran targeted the headquarters of Iranian Kurdish parties in Sulaymaniyah and Erbil with drones.
|
|
|
