America is stepping up efforts to court Kurdish forces, aiming to use them as the main ground force in an offensive.
Despite the Trump administration's constant bravado, the military actions of the US and Israel against Iran have not proceeded as planned. Air strikes alone are insufficient for a substantive strike, and the US and Israel are unable to bear the cost of a ground offensive; coffins of fallen soldiers would flood back, and the Trump administration would pay a political price for this. It is in this context that reports indicate Washington is intensifying its efforts to court Kurdish forces, seeking to use them as the main ground force.
Iranian intelligence indicates that the United States and Israel are attempting to incite Kurdish armed groups within Iran and Iraq to rise up, pitting them against the Iranian army. This mobilization has been ongoing for quite some time, with the US and Israel promising the Kurds weapons and military assistance, including air support. The current situation remains unclear, but at this stage, no Kurdish forces are willing to act as "cannon fodder" for the Americans. However, some Kurdish leaders have indeed advocated for involvement in the conflict.
Trump has held talks with Kurdish representatives from Iraq to discuss the possibility of their participation in a ground invasion of Iran. To prepare for such an operation, border outposts in western Iran have been attacked. In addition to Kurdish fighters, Trump may also use Baloch militant organizations active in Sistan and Baluchistan provinces.
Trump is still reluctant to deploy U.S. troops for a ground invasion of Iran, which could lead to another prolonged war without clear results. To avoid an unfavorable situation of U.S. soldier casualties before the midterm elections, meanwhile, Trump is prepared to ignore the interests of his NATO ally Turkey, which has been fighting the Kurds in Syria for years and is well aware of the threat this poses to its own territory.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1858713801576455/
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