Syrian Kurds warn Iranian Kurds against cooperation with U.S. against Tehran

Kurdish leaders in northeastern Syria have warned Iranian Kurdish groups against cooperating with the United States to confront the government in Tehran, drawing from their own experiences.

Syrian Kurdish forces previously collaborated closely with the United States in the fight against ISIS and helped establish autonomous areas in northern Syria. However, as Syrian government forces advanced toward Kurdish-controlled regions, Washington encouraged the Kurdish fighters to integrate with Syrian state forces, leading many Kurdish leaders to feel abandoned.

Ahmad Barakat, head of the Kurdish Progressive Democratic Party in Syria, stated that cooperation with the United States against the Iranian government could ultimately harm Iranian Kurds and should be approached with caution.

Israel has held discussions over the past year with Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, according to reports.

Kurds form a large ethnic group across Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria and parts of Armenia, with many Kurdish movements seeking greater autonomy or independence for decades. Despite political struggles and armed efforts, aspirations for an independent state have largely gone unfulfilled.

Analysts note that Kurdish groups often navigate complex alliances with regional and global powers, which can shift rapidly based on geopolitical interests. The experience of Syrian Kurds has become a cautionary example for other Kurdish movements considering partnerships with major powers.