Fact-check: Kurds have breached border and launched an offensive against Iran? New videos emerge

The day after it was first reported that Iranian Kurds, based in Iraq, are planning to launch an offensive against Iran, several videos emerged

Published on: Mar 05, 2026 8:23 AM IST

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The day after it was first reported that Iranian Kurds, based in Iraq, are planning to launch an offensive against Iran, several alleged videos emerged on social media. Fox News on Wednesday reported that ‘thousands’ of Kurds have already ‘launched a ground offensive into Iran’ following talks with the Trump administration.

Kurdish forces stand at the roadside as vehicles of the Syrian government's internal security forces enter the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakeh (AFP)

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Video emerges

Fox host Will Cain and army veteran Bill Roggio discussed the latest development on Wednesday.

“Fox News Alert: big breaking news in the last 30 minutes. US officials are telling Fox that thousands of Iraqi Kurds have launched a ground offensive into Iran. Bill Roggio is a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a US Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bill, what do you make of this news with the Iraqi Kurds?” Cain said.

“Well, it’s very soon, but this appears to be an Iranian Kurdish group known as the PJAK. This group is actually listed by the U.S. government as a foreign terrorist organization—also listed by Iran and Turkey. It’s akin to the PKK, or the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which operates in Iraq and Syria. We have to be very cautious about dealing with groups like this,” Roggio replied.

Meanwhile, videos of the alleged launch appeared on social media.

Meanwhile, a Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan (CPFIK) source told i24NEWS that fighters have taken up positions in the mountains near Mariwan in western Iran. The report added that Iranian forces withdrew from the city on March 3. The Jerusalem Post cited Israeli and American sources to report about ‘ground activity’ inside Iran.

Fact-check

However, there are no verified videos showing any incursion. Multiple sources told The New Region that no Kurdish forces have crossed the borders into Iran, and no offensive has been launched.

Axios reporter Barak Ravid had initially posted on X that a senior US official confirmed to him Kurdish-Iranian groups had launched a ground offensive. However, he later clarified, tweeting: “Update: There are conflicting reports regarding what is currently happening in northwestern Iran near the border with Iraq. It is unclear whether a ground offensive by the Iranian-Kurdish militias has already begun or may be launched in the coming hours. A senior official in one of the Iranian-Kurdish factions denied to me that a ground offensive has started.”

Khalil Nadiri, an official with the Kurdistan Freedom Party, or PAK, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that some of their forces had moved to areas near the Iranian border and were on standby. However, he did not confirm details.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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