Is the U.S. withdrawing ground troops? Trump: Kurdish armed forces' participation in combat has been ruled out

Trump explicitly rules out the involvement of “Iranian Kurdish anti-government forces” in the conflict and raises the threshold for the U.S. to deploy ground troops.

According to Xinhua News Agency, on March 7, Trump stated aboard Air Force One that he does not want the conflict to become more complicated, “This war is complicated enough; there’s no need to involve the Kurds.”

Trump also said that deploying ground forces to Iran requires “a very good reason,” and that the Iranian military must be severely weakened so that they are “incapable of fighting.” However, he clearly shows interest in the idea of deploying ground troops to control Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities. “Maybe at some point, we will do that.”

Media analysis suggests that if Kurdish forces enter into combat against Iran, it could trigger broader regional repercussions. Iraqi Kurdish leaders are also cautious about involvement. Iran and Turkey have issued warnings regarding the risks of Kurdish separatism, making the situation’s controllability a key variable in market assessments of geopolitical risk.

Trump draws the line: No involvement of Kurdish forces in the conflict

According to Bloomberg, Trump emphasized aboard Air Force One that he has a “very good relationship” with the Kurds, and they have told him they are “willing to enter” Iran, but he has informed them “not to go,” to avoid further complicating the war.

This statement contrasts with earlier leaked information. On March 5, Xinhua cited Israeli media reports that U.S. senior officials revealed Kurdish forces stationed in Iraq launched a “ground attack.” The “Iranian Kurdish anti-government forces” in Iraq are believed to number in the thousands.

Additionally, reports indicate that Israel’s military has been trying to pave the way for Kurdish forces to establish a foothold in northwestern Iran, with the ultimate goal of encouraging armed Kurds to oppose Tehran. Against this backdrop, Trump’s “exclusion” statement effectively tightens the options for pressuring Iran through Kurdish forces.

Ground troop options are “postponed” but not completely ruled out

As speculation grows about whether the U.S. might escalate military involvement, Trump stated that deploying ground forces to Iran requires “a very good reason,” and that the Iranian military must be “severely weakened” so they are “incapable of fighting.”

However, he also left room for flexibility: when discussing the possible deployment of ground troops to control Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities, Trump said, “That would be a great thing,” and “maybe we will at some point.”

For investors, this kind of language indicates that U.S. policy pathways remain bifurcated: one side continuing with air strikes and allied cooperation, and the other opening the possibility of ground operations driven by specific objectives. The inherent uncertainty will continue to influence risk pricing.

Risks of Kurdish involvement: regional warnings and power constraints

Introducing Kurdish forces into combat against Iran could trigger more complex regional reactions. Reports say that Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has stated that they have struck Kurdish organizations inside Iraq and warned they will not tolerate separatist movements.

Turkey also stated that organizations promoting Kurdish separatism threaten regional stability and the territorial integrity of neighboring countries.

From a capacity perspective, the Middle East Research Institute’s founder Dlawer Ala’Aldeen cited that although some Kurdish factions are preparing for potential cross-border actions, these groups remain fragmented and lack the ability to directly challenge Iran’s state machinery, though they could create “pressure points” along the border.

Media analysis points out that these organizations currently lack the influence and resources to successfully initiate uprisings. Additionally, internal divisions exist within Kurdish opposition groups, with differing ideologies and agendas.

Furthermore, Kurdish trust in the U.S. is limited. Historically, Kurdish armed groups have cooperated with the U.S. multiple times but have often been abandoned. CNN national security analyst Alex Plitsas warned, “If the uprising fails and the U.S. withdraws, it will reinforce narratives of American abandonment of the Kurds.”

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