The Trump administration is moving to terminate military assistance to the Peshmerga, the security force of Iraqi Kurdistan, according to four sources with knowledge of recent Pentagon discussions. US Department of Defense officials have informed Kurdish leaders in meetings that the administration does not intend to renew a security assistance agreement set to expire on 30 September. The memorandum of understanding between the Pentagon and the Kurdish Regional Government has provided funding for weapons, training, and personnel stipends, with the Peshmerga receiving $61 million in fiscal year 2026.
Kurdish officials and analysts have expressed concern that eliminating the funding would create instability in the region and benefit adversarial powers. The Peshmerga, which comprises approximately 180,000 troops, fought alongside international coalition forces to defeat the Islamic State group. Yerevan Saeed, director of the Global Kurdish Initiative for Peace, stated that cutting support would disadvantage the Kurds and advantage Iran, China, and Russia. The Pentagon has justified the proposal by noting that since ISIS was defeated, resources should be redirected elsewhere, though the funding decision remains subject to congressional budget deliberations.
The timing is significant as the US is withdrawing its remaining military personnel from Iraq by 30 September under a 2024 agreement between Washington and Baghdad. This withdrawal will formally conclude the international military campaign against ISIS that spanned more than a decade. The sole remaining US military base in Iraq, located in the Kurdish capital of Irbil, is scheduled to close once coalition troops depart. Iranian attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan have intensified, with research indicating 158 missile or drone strikes by late May.
Pentagon and State Department officials have indicated that alternative arrangements for maintaining security engagement are under consideration, though details remain uncertain. A Pentagon spokesperson referenced recent discussions with Iraqi leadership regarding the capability of Iraqi Security Forces, including the Peshmerga, to lead counterterrorism efforts. The potential aid cutoff presents a strategic reversal, occurring less than one year after the US opened its largest consulate worldwide in Irbil, described as evidence of the US commitment to the region. Former officials involved in coalition efforts against ISIS have cautioned against repeating historical mistakes, noting the consequences when security vacuums emerge in Iraq.
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