US plans not to renew security aid for Iraq's Kurdistan region, sources say
The Trump administration is planning not to renew an expiring security assistance agreement for the Peshmerga in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, according to people familiar with the talks. The move would affect military aid that has supported the Kurdish force for years and comes as the region faces continued attacks from Iran. The reported decision has raised concern among Kurdish officials that it could weaken local defences at a sensitive moment.
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According to four sources familiar with the matter, the US Department of Defense has told leaders in the Kurdistan region in recent meetings that the administration does not intend to extend the agreement. Two officials who took part in the discussions and two other sources with direct knowledge of the issue described the talks on condition of anonymity. The memorandum of understanding between the Pentagon and the Kurdish Regional Government is due to expire on 30 September.
That date also coincides with the planned withdrawal of the last remaining US and other foreign troops from Iraq. The Peshmerga has been a central partner for the United States and its allies in the campaign against the Islamic State group. Kurdish forces fought alongside coalition troops as the jihadist group lost control of parts of Iraq and Syria.
The reported aid cut therefore carries significance beyond the immediate funding question, because it could affect the balance of security in a region that has relied on outside support for years. The sole remaining US military base in Iraq, in the Kurdish capital of Irbil, is also set to close next month once coalition troops leave. Kurdish officials fear that ending the assistance would create a power vacuum and embolden Iran.
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The concern is tied to the recent pattern of Iranian drone and missile attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan, which sources said have intensified since the war with Tehran began. Iranian drones have hit Irbil, underscoring the vulnerability of the region as external military support is reduced. For Kurdish leaders, the issue is not only financial but also strategic, because the Peshmerga remains one of the main local forces able to respond to threats in the north of Iraq.
The reported policy shift also fits with President Donald Trump's broader pledge in his second term to reduce US foreign entanglements in the Middle East. At the same time, the administration has been engaged in a war with Iran that reached the six-month mark on Friday, with no end in sight. That wider conflict has increased pressure on US partners in the region and sharpened concerns in Iraqi Kurdistan about being left exposed.
Analysts quoted in the reporting said ending the assistance would undermine a longstanding partner and could signal that Washington is less willing to stand by allies in the region. The Peshmerga's role has long been tied to the wider security architecture in Iraq. It has been one of the main Kurdish forces operating alongside coalition troops, and its relationship with Washington has been built over years of cooperation against IS.
The planned closure of the last US base in Irbil next month would mark another step in the drawdown of the international military campaign against the group. That makes the timing of the aid decision especially important for Kurdish authorities, who are already facing pressure from regional threats. Yerevan Saeed, director of the Global Kurdish Initiative for Peace at American University, said cutting off the Kurds would be a major setback after their role in helping the Americans achieve their goals in Iraq and the wider Middle East.
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He said such a move would be a big win for Iran, China and Russia if the Kurds were left exposed. His comments reflect a broader concern among Kurdish officials and analysts that the decision could have consequences beyond Iraq, including for US credibility with partners elsewhere. The reporting did not indicate that a final decision has been formally announced.
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