The United States Department of Defense plans to terminate security assistance to the Kurdistan Regional Government's Peshmerga forces when their bilateral memorandum of understanding expires on 30 September. This funding cut coincides with the final withdrawal of remaining coalition troops and the closure of the last American military base in Irbil.
The decision leaves 180,000 Kurdish troops without $61 million in annual Pentagon support previously allocated for weapons, training, and stipends under counter-IS programs. Iraqi Kurdistan faces heightened operational exposure following 158 Iranian drone and missile strikes targeting the region by late May. Senior officials like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi have framed the drawdown as a transition to full Iraqi security self-reliance. Former coalition envoy James Jeffrey warns that abandoning long-standing allies risks creating a strategic vacuum. Iran gains leverage. The policy shift occurs despite Washington completing an $800 million consulate complex in Irbil last December.
The scheduled termination of the 2016 Pentagon memorandum of understanding with the KRG exposes the structural fragility of proxy-based security architecture in non-treaty partnerships. While Operation Inherent Resolve relied on the Peshmerga as the primary ground force against Islamic State formations, security assistance remained tied to anti-terrorism mandates rather than formal mutual defence guarantees. The cessation of direct US stipends degrades regional command cohesion in Irbil amidst ongoing Iranian drone strikes.
This assistance framework required the Peshmerga to maintain operational capabilities dependent on US Department of Defense counter-ISIS appropriations. Without these dedicated funds, political friction between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan will likely weaken unified command authority across internal security sectors.
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