Iraq's Kurdistan Region says US military support not ending despite expiry of agreement

The United States' military support agreement with Iraq's Kurdistan Region is set to expire at the end of September, but officials from Erbil and Washington insist ties will not be severed, The National reports. The two parties signed the deal in 2016 to bolster Peshmerga forces' reform and unification. As US troops withdraw from Iraq by the end of September, Kurdish officials say the agreement's expiration does not mean the end of their strategic partnership.

Noreldin Waisy, a KRG spokesman, told The National that the Peshmerga have been instrumental in combating terrorism and there remains a strong basis for continued security cooperation. The agreement provides US support to the Peshmerga during their fight against ISIS, including counter-ISIS operations and efforts to professionalise and unify Kurdish forces.

While the end of US funding does not imply suspension of military assistance, Kurdish officials expect co-operation to continue through training, military advice, logistics, institutional reform, capacity-building, and counter-terrorism efforts. The Peshmerga forces, divided between units loyal to the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, are working towards unified command.

The US-led coalition mission in Iraq is transitioning from combat and advisory roles to bilateral security cooperation, with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi confirming the withdrawal of US-led military forces and the transfer of bases to Iraqi forces before September 30.