ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The Turkish defense ministry on Thursday announced that it is closely following the activities of the Kurdish Free Life Party (PJAK) amid the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran, criticizing the Kurdish Iranian opposition group's "ethnic separatism" and vowing to support Iran's territorial integrity.

"Turkey supports the preservation of the territorial integrity of neighboring countries, not their division," the defense ministry said. "In this context, the activities of groups that fuel ethnic separatism, such as the terrorist organization PJAK, negatively affect not only Iran's security but also the overall peace and stability of the region."

"We are closely monitoring the activities of the PJAK terrorist organization in Iran and developments in the region in coordination with the relevant institutions of our state."

Ankara's remarks come amid media reports of a budding invasion of Iran by Kurdish dissident fighters based in the Kurdistan Region, something that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has repeatedly and strenuously denied.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that the reports of the US and Israel arming such factions to prepare a land campaign are "completely false," while KRG spokesperson Peshawa Hawramani the following day similarly dismissed them as "completely unfounded."

Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee for the PJAK Zegrus Enderyari told The New Region "that the situation is currently complicated, but so far no military operations have been launched by the Kurds."

The PJAK is affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a long-time Turkish foe that waged a guerilla campaign against Ankara for decades before agreeing to disband itself and lay down arms in 2025.

In late January, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi that the "complete neutralization of PJAK constitutes an urgent necessity for Iran’s security," according to Turkish officials.

The dissident group is one of the members of a new coalition of Kurdish opposition forces formed in Februarythat has vowed to topple the Islamic Republic.

Hours after the announcement of the alliance, the KRG rejected threats made against "a neighboring country," asserting that it will not allow any party to use the Region to attack a neighboring state.

Iran has long accused Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in the Kurdistan Region of pursuing separatist agendas and has repeatedly targeted their bases.

The latest strike occurred Wednesday when drones hit a base belonging to the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) in Erbil's Koya district, killing at least one person.