Iran Targets Headquarters of Komala Group in Iraq’s Autonomous Kurdistan Region With Drone Strike, Iranian Media Reports
Erbil, Iraq | October 25, 2026 | The Global Journal
A drone strike has reportedly targeted a base belonging to Komala, an Iranian Kurdish opposition group operating in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan Region. According to Iran’s Mehr News Agency, the operation took place on Saturday night, October 24, targeting the group’s headquarters in the Balisan area. However, accounts from the parties involved differ over the extent of the damage and whether there were any casualties.
In a report published on Sunday, October 25, Mehr News said the ground forces of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) carried out the drone operation. The Iranian outlet described Komala as a “terrorist and separatist” group and claimed that its headquarters was the target. The extent of the damage and any casualties have not been independently verified.
Drone Strike Reported in the Balisan Area
Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan Region in the north hosts bases and camps belonging to several Iranian Kurdish opposition groups, including Komala. The Balisan area is located in Erbil Governorate.
According to Kurdish media outlet Rudaw, Komala said an explosive-laden drone struck one of its bases in the Alana Valley on Saturday night. The group claimed that the facility sustained damage but that none of its fighters were killed or injured.
Mehr News, meanwhile, reported significant damage and casualties among the group but did not provide a specific death toll. The conflicting accounts mean the full extent of the damage remains unclear.
Ongoing Operations Against Iranian Kurdish Groups
Iran has long regarded Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region as a threat to its national security. Tehran alleges that these groups seek to destabilize Iran and receive support from Israel. However, no independently verified evidence linking Israel to support for the group in connection with this particular strike has been made public.
Since a regional war involving Iran spread in February this year, reports of drone and missile strikes targeting Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region have continued to emerge.
Earlier, at least nine members of Komala were reportedly killed in an attack near the city of Sulaymaniyah on July 17. Another drone strike targeting a Komala base in the Balisan area was reported in October.
Iran’s repeated attacks on targets inside Iraqi territory have raised renewed questions about Iraq’s sovereignty and border security. In March 2023, Iraq and Iran reached a security agreement aimed at addressing the activities of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups near the border. However, attacks on the groups’ positions have continued since the agreement.
Iraq’s federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government now face the challenge of balancing Iran’s security concerns with the need to prevent foreign military operations on Iraqi territory. Continued strikes could further increase tensions in border areas.
The latest reported drone strike on a Komala base represents another development in the ongoing confrontation between Iran and Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in Iraqi Kurdistan. However, the number of casualties, the extent of the damage and the full details of the operation remain independently unconfirmed.
Official responses from Iraq’s federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, along with further statements from the parties involved, may provide greater clarity. Whether Iran’s cross-border military operations will further escalate regional tensions remains an important issue to watch.
Sources: Mehr News Agency; Rudaw; Al Arabiya, October 25, 2026.
