At a Glance

• Iraqi Armed Forces spokesperson Sabah al-Numan says Baghdad maintains a high level of coordination with the Peshmerga forces.
• He says Iraq has a roadmap for managing security after the departure of international coalition forces.
• Al-Numan says Iraqi security forces are fully prepared to assume responsibility for the country’s security.
• He describes the Peshmerga as part of Iraq’s armed forces and says it has representation within the broader security structure.

---

In an exclusive interview with Channel8, Iraqi Armed Forces spokesperson Sabah al-Numan stated that Baghdad maintains a high level of coordination with the Peshmerga forces and has full confidence in their capabilities. Al-Numan highlighted that this operational alignment comes as federal and regional security structures prepare to assume greater responsibility for Iraq's defense following the departure of international coalition forces.

Al-Numan said the post-withdrawal roadmap was based on a shared understanding and that Iraq’s armed forces are now better equipped to confront security challenges than they were before 2014.

---

Key Statements

“We have a high level of coordination with the Peshmerga forces.”

“We have complete confidence in the Peshmerga forces.”

“We have drawn up a roadmap for the period following the departure of our coalition partners.”

“The Iraqi armed forces are at the highest level of readiness.”

“The forces we have today are not the same as those we had before 2014.”

“The Peshmerga forces are part of Iraq’s armed forces.”

— Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces to Channel8

---

Peshmerga Coordination: Al-Numan emphasized continued coordination between federal security forces and the Peshmerga, describing the Kurdish forces as part of Iraq’s armed forces.

Post-Coalition Planning: He said Baghdad has established a roadmap for the period following the departure of coalition forces, based on a shared understanding.

Security Responsibility: Al-Numan said Iraqi security forces are capable of assuming responsibility for the country’s security file and stressed that current forces are significantly different from those operating before 2014.

Political Influence: He said the arrangements surrounding the transition were made independently of political influence.

---

Iraqi Armed Forces spokesperson Sabah al-Numan says Iraq has maintained strong coordination with the Peshmerga and has full confidence in the Kurdish forces as the country moves toward greater security self-reliance.

Speaking to Channel 8, al-Numan said Baghdad has prepared a roadmap for the period following the departure of its international coalition partners, adding that the timeline was established on the basis of a shared understanding.

He said Iraq’s security forces are capable of taking responsibility for the country’s security affairs and are currently at their highest level of readiness.

“The security forces are capable of taking full responsibility for the security file,” al-Numan said.

He also stressed that the security arrangements have been made without political influence.

Al-Numan pointed to changes in Iraq’s security forces since the fight against ISIS, saying the forces currently operating in the country are not the same as those that existed before 2014.

“We are capable of confronting all challenges,” he said.

On the Peshmerga, al-Numan emphasized its constitutional position within Iraq’s security structure.

“The Peshmerga forces are part of the Iraqi armed forces,” he said, adding that the Peshmerga has representation within the broader security structure.

His comments come as Iraq prepares for the completion of the US-led coalition’s military mission and a transition toward security arrangements led by Iraqi forces. Iraqi officials have previously said the transition is being coordinated with the office of the Commander-in-Chief and that cooperation with coalition countries is expected to continue in areas including intelligence, information exchange and military programs.

Al-Numan has also previously told Channel 8 that the Peshmerga are constitutional forces and that Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region are coordinating security arrangements.

FYI

Al-Numan’s remarks place the Peshmerga within Baghdad’s broader framework for managing Iraq’s security after the coalition’s military withdrawal. His emphasis on coordination is also relevant to ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation between federal forces and the Peshmerga, particularly as Iraq assumes greater responsibility for national security.

The comments come alongside recent steps toward greater Peshmerga institutional integration. The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs announced in September that the unification and reorganization of the 70 and 80 Forces under a unified command-and-control structure had been completed, with the process conducted with support from coalition partners.

This is a developing story, and additional key takeaways from the interview will follow as further details are released.