World News
US plans to end military aid to Iraqi Kurdistan's Peshmerga forces
Defense officials have reportedly notified Kurdish leaders that an expiring security assistance agreement will not be renewed as US troops prepare to withdraw from Iraq.
The short version
- The US Department of Defense has informed Iraqi Kurdish leaders that it does not plan to renew a security assistance agreement expiring on September 30.
- The expiration coincides with the scheduled withdrawal of all remaining US-led coalition troops from Iraq.
- Peshmerga forces received $61 million in fiscal year 2026 for training, equipment, and stipends under the counter-IS program.
- The Pentagon continues to review its broader long-term security posture and potential bilateral support options for Iraq and Kurdistan.
Key facts
- US defence officials informed leaders in Iraqi Kurdistan that the administration does not intend to renew the memorandum of understanding granting aid to the Peshmerga.[BBC News]
- The existing security memorandum between the US Department of Defense and the Kurdistan Regional Government expires on September 30.[BBC News]
- The expiration date aligns with the planned pullout of the final US and international coalition forces from Iraq.[BBC News]
- In fiscal year 2026, the Peshmerga received $61 million through the Pentagon's counter-IS program for equipment, training, and stipends.[BBC News]
- By late May, Iranian forces and aligned militias had carried out 158 drone or missile strikes inside Iraqi Kurdistan.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
- A source familiar with Pentagon planning stated that a final determination regarding future security engagements with Kurdistan remains under active review.[BBC News]
- The structure and terms of any prospective bilateral defense pact between the US and the central government of Iraq remain undecided.[BBC News]