According to three sources who spoke to Axios and were familiar with the conversations, Trump contacted KDP leader Masoud Barzani and PUK leader Bafel Talabani on Sunday.
The report said that the calls took place shortly after Israel launched its bombing campaign on Saturday. One of the sources described the discussions as “sensitive” but did not provide details about their content. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said only that Trump has been in contact with many allies and partners in the region in recent days.
According to Axios, the Kurds possess thousands of armed forces along the Iran-Iraq border and control strategically significant areas that could influence the course of the war. Iraqi Kurds also have close ties with the Kurdish population in Iran.
The report further claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has for months been lobbying behind the scenes in Washington to involve the Kurds in the process.
A U.S. official stated that Netanyahu believes Kurds in Iran could rise up, but that officials in Washington assess this expectation may be exaggerated. Nevertheless, it was noted that the potential role of the battle-experienced Peshmerga forces could affect the military dimension of the war.
Leave a Reply