Iraq: Kurd regional government says US pledged to continue support Peshmerga

The Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq said on Tuesday that the US has pledged to continue supporting the region’s security forces known as Peshmerga, as well as the federal security forces, in the fight against the Daesh militant group.

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin confirmed this to Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in a letter. Austin stressed “the importance of moving forward in the strong relations between the Kurdistan region and the United States and joint coordination in confronting [Daesh] terrorists.”

According to the autonomous government, the US official explained that America will continue to support the Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces, especially in the exchange of information and intelligence.

Meanwhile, Iraqi President Barham Salih has met US Ambassador Matthew Tueller at the presidential residence in central Baghdad. They discussed “close bilateral relations and the development of cooperation in various fields including strategic dialogue in a manner that serves common interests.”

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The strengthening of joint action to confront the challenges of terrorism, cooperation against corruption and terrorist financing, and confronting the dangerous repercussions of climate change were also on the agenda.

US combat troops are scheduled to leave Iraq by the end of this year, according to an agreement reached by Baghdad and Washington on 26 July.