The Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq is experiencing heightened security tensions following a surge in Iranian drone and missile attacks targeting Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based there. These developments come amid the recent withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, raising concerns about the region’s vulnerability to increased Iranian military pressure.

Since late February, the Kurdistan Region has endured more than 1,000 attacks attributed to Iran and Iranian-backed Iraqi militias. The strikes have targeted bases of opposition groups such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) and the Khabat Organization of Iranian Kurdistan, causing material damage and prompting fears among local residents.

The Iranian government, represented by Consul General Faramarz Asadi in Erbil, has accused Kurdish opposition parties of forging alliances under the influence of foreign powers. Asadi claimed that five Iranian Kurdish opposition groups formed an alliance shortly before the outbreak of the war in February and declared their willingness to cooperate with entities opposed to Iran’s Islamic Republic.

The KDPI rejected these accusations, stating that the alliance, known as the Alliance of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan, is a political coalition aimed at advancing the legitimate aspirations of the Kurdish people within Iran. The party criticized Tehran for framing Kurdish political demands primarily as security threats rather than addressing their national concerns.

The tensions escalated shortly after Asadi’s remarks, when two explosive-laden drones struck a Khabat base near Erbil in the Rizgari (Topzawa) area. While there were no reported casualties, the attack caused significant material damage and increased anxiety among civilians living in proximity to opposition group facilities.

Local residents have expressed growing unease over their safety amid ongoing strikes. Nazmi Saadi, a school principal, described a community living in constant fear, noting difficulties in finding housing as families relocate to avoid the conflict zone. Some residents have already evacuated their homes, citing the absence of air defense systems and the slow pace at which Iraq’s central government has promised to provide such capabilities to the Kurdistan Region.

Farida Mohammed, another resident of Topzawa, conveyed the distress facing families caught between the violence and displacement. “I was told to leave the house tonight and go somewhere,” she said, underscoring the uncertain and precarious conditions locals endure.

Kurdistan Region authorities have repeatedly called on Tehran to cease all attacks, emphasizing the impact on civilian populations and regional stability. With Iranian-backed militias still active and scheduled to disarm only by mid-2027, the security situation remains fragile.

The recent pattern of Iranian military and diplomatic pressure on Kurdish groups within northern Iraq reflects broader geopolitical dynamics following the U.S. troop withdrawal, raising questions about the future stability of the Kurdistan Region and the broader landscape of Kurdish-Iranian relations.