At a Glance 

• Interior Minister expressed hope that vital U.S. military and financial assistance will continue.
• Ahmed emphasized that Kurdistan still need Coalition forces.
• He confirmed no definitive choice has been made regarding funding suspensions.

Rebar Ahmed, Interior Minister of the caretaker Kurdistan Regional Government, emphasized that Erbil still requires Coalition forces, expressing hope that U.S. military and financial aid will continue.

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Key Statement and Focus Area

• The Interior Minister said, “We hope that U.S. military and financial assistance will continue.”
• International Coalition forces have officially begun a coordinated withdrawal from their military bases in Iraq, with the entire process scheduled to conclude by September 30.

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Responding to Channel8 on Saturday regarding the suspension of U.S. assistance to the Peshmerga forces, Ahmed noted that visits and exchanges of views have taken place between Peshmerga Ministry delegations and Pentagon officials both here and in the United States.

"No final decision has been made yet,” the Interior Minister confirmed.

He stressed that the Kurdistan Region and Iraq still require the presence of Coalition forces.

FYI

Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed's remarks come as the International Coalition to Defeat ISIS approaches a definitive September 30 deadline to conclude its decade-long military mission in Iraq.

Under an agreement finalized between Baghdad and Washington, several global coalition partners have already initiated their drawdown, including German forces who recently completed a total exit from their base in Erbil.

During a ceremony marking the conclusion of the German military advisory mission last week, Peshmerga Minister Shoresh Ismail stated the international coalition's mission will conclude at the end of September, but reaffirmed that strategic ties will continue while calling on Germany to strengthen its assistance in the upcoming phase.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Peshmerga confirmed last week that July 2026 Coalition financial aid has been deposited, with all administrative procedures finalized to begin distribution the same week.

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