Iran again strikes at Kurdish groups using drones

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Iran conducted multiple drone strikes on Kurdish opposition camps in northern Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, targeting facilities associated with the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI) without causing casualties. These attacks highlight ongoing Iranian efforts to suppress Kurdish opposition groups across the border amid regional security concerns following the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and limited local air defenses.

Iran launched drone strikes on Monday targeting Kurdish Iranian opposition groups in the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq, local Kurdish media and the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI) reported. According to the KDPI, a drone struck the Azadi camp in the Koya district shortly after noon, causing material damage but no casualties. The Koya area, situated between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah near the Iranian border, hosts camps and housing for Kurdish dissidents who have fled Iran.

Rudaw, a regional news outlet, confirmed the attack and noted this was the second drone strike on the same site that day. The KDPI characterized the assault as the 175th attack by Iran on its facilities. Officials said the camp had been evacuated prior to the strike, minimizing the risk of injury. A security source told Rudaw that despite the strikes, no casualties were reported.

The drone attacks form part of a broader pattern of Iranian military operations targeting Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in northern Iraq. Over 1,000 missile and drone strikes have been carried out by Iran against these groups in recent years. The Iranian government views these opposition forces as a threat to its territorial integrity and seeks to suppress their activities, which are concentrated in Kurdish regions of western Iran.

The strikes occur amid regional concerns about security following the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq on September 30. Kurdish leaders have expressed apprehension about the potential vulnerabilities this creates, particularly given the limited air defense capabilities in the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad’s refusal to provide such defenses. Iraq’s overall air defense infrastructure remains underdeveloped due to prolonged mismanagement.

KDPI spokesperson Khalid Azizi emphasized that the group currently has no intention of deploying its fighters into Iraqi Kurdistan, describing ongoing struggles as a civil conflict within Iranian territory. Azizi also stated that the KDPI had coordinated with both the Iraqi central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to avoid turning northern Iraq into a battleground. This message appeared aimed at reducing regional tensions amid escalating attacks.

Tensions have been further fueled by recent statements from Iranian officials. Faramarz Asadi, Iran’s Consul General, accused Kurdish opposition parties of forming alliances under foreign influence. In response, the KDPI defended the Alliance of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan—established in February to promote cooperation among Kurdish groups—as a legitimate political coalition representing Kurdish aspirations, dismissing Tehran’s allegations.

The Hana Human Rights Organization, which monitors abuses in Iranian Kurdistan, reported that the drone strikes targeted housing complexes for the families of KDPI members. They described the drones as having been launched from Piranshahr in Iran toward the region.

Hours after Asadi’s comments, two explosive-laden drones reportedly hit a base belonging to the Khatabat Organization of Iranian Kurdistan near Erbil, underscoring the continued volatility in the area. Iran maintains that these Kurdish groups are “terrorists,” a characterization rejected by the opposition, which advocates for Kurdish rights and autonomy within Iran.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.