Retired US Air Force officer Rick Francona discusses Kurds, Iranian threat with 'Post' - interview

Retired US Air Force intelligence officer Rick Francona discusses the Kurdistan Region of Iraq's strategic position and challenges amid looming conflict with Iran, including Iranian attacks, intra-Kurdish divisions, and the lack of a coherent long-term strategy for Kurdish autonomy.

Retired US Air Force intelligence officer Rick Francona spoke to The Jerusalem Post about the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq and the challenges it faces as a new conflict with Iran looms. The KRG sits at the crossroads of Turkey, Iran, and Syria, making it strategically important but also a target. Iran has carried out more than 1,000 drone and missile attacks on the region since February 2026, when the US and Israel began airstrikes on Iran. Francona notes that the KRG is a passive participant in the hostilities and must decide whether to ask Iranian Kurdish groups to sit out or support cross-border operations. He also discusses intra-Kurdish divisions between the KDP and PUK, the role of Baghdad, and the lack of a coherent long-term strategy for Kurdish autonomy. The article notes that the Kurdish-led region of eastern Syria collapsed in January 2026.