Iran strikes CIA facility in Riyadh amid US-Kurdish plans against Tehran

WEB DESK: Iran has reportedly launched a drone strike on a CIA facility within the US Embassy compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, causing substantial structural damage, including a partially collapsed roof and heavy smoke. No confirmed casualties have been reported.

According to the Express Tribune, the attack is widely interpreted as a message to Washington, coming amid escalating tensions following recent US-led strikes on Iranian targets. Officials suggest the strike forms part of Tehran’s broader response to what it sees as external interference in its internal affairs.

US Explores Cooperation with Kurdish Forces Against Iran

US agencies are reportedly exploring plans to arm Kurdish militias to destabilise Iran’s central authorities. Discussions between Washington officials and Kurdish leadership have reportedly included weapons and intelligence support, with Kurdish forces along the Iran-Iraq border expressing interest in leveraging the current instability.

President Donald Trump is said to have spoken with Mustafa Hijri, leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), a group previously targeted by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. While the CIA maintains a long-standing presence in Iraqi Kurdistan, its precise role in the proposed operation remains unconfirmed.

Kurdish communities, numbering 25–30 million across the Middle East, have historically cooperated with the US in military operations, particularly against ISIS. However, repeated withdrawals of American forces most notably from northern Syria in 2018 have fostered deep mistrust and concerns that the US may once again leave Kurdish fighters exposed to retaliation.

As US-Iran tensions continue to escalate, the precarious position of Kurdish militias and the broader implications for regional security remain under close international scrutiny.