Iran launches drone strikes on Kurdish opposition base in Iraq

The Iranian military operation marks the latest in a series of cross-border actions targeting anti-government Kurdish groups operating from Iraqi territory. The Revolutionary Guards deployed drones to strike Komala's facilities in the Balisan valley, a mountainous region along the Iran-Iraq border that has long served as a staging ground for opposition organisations.

Komala, a decades-old Kurdish opposition group, has maintained a presence in northern Iraq despite periodic Iranian military pressure. The group has historically opposed Iran's Islamic Republic system and has conducted cross-border activities that Tehran views as a threat to its national security.

The strike underscores persistent tensions between Iran and Kurdish opposition groups based across its borders. Iran has previously conducted similar military operations against various opposition groups sheltering in Iraq, citing national security concerns.

The Balisan region remains a focal point of regional instability, with multiple armed groups and opposition organisations operating in the rugged terrain. The area's proximity to the Iranian border and distance from Baghdad's direct control have made it a refuge for groups seeking to evade government pressure.