US to end military aid to Iraq’s Kurdistan region

The United States Department of Defense plans to let a security assistance agreement with Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region expire on September 30. This decision will end millions of dollars in funding for the Peshmerga, the Kurdish security force, which received approximately $61 million in the 2026 fiscal year for weapons, training, and stipends.

The expiration of the memorandum of understanding coincides with the planned withdrawal of the last remaining American troops from Iraq, marking the formal end of the international military campaign against the Islamic State. The sole remaining US military base in the country, located in Erbil, is scheduled to close next month as coalition troops depart.

Kurdish leaders have expressed concerns that the cessation of American assistance could create a security vacuum in northern Iraq and increase the influence of Iran in the region. The move reflects a broader shift in Washington’s policy as it transitions from coalition operations toward bilateral security ties with Iraq.