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US may let Peshmerga security agreement expire as forces leave Iraq
The Pentagon has reportedly told Kurdish leaders that it does not plan to renew the security assistance memorandum after September 30, potentially ending the current direct aid framework, including about $61 million a... The agreement’s expiration coincides with the planned withdrawal of US and coalition forces from...
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Key takeaways
- The Pentagon has reportedly told Kurdish leaders that it does not plan to renew the security assistance memorandum after September 30, potentially ending the current direct aid framework, including about $61 million a...
- The agreement’s expiration coincides with the planned withdrawal of US and coalition forces from Iraq, the formal end of the international anti ISIS operation and the closure of the US facility in Erbil.
- Kurdish officials say they have received no formal notification of a final cutoff and maintain that US assistance and cooperation are continuing under the existing arrangement.
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openai.comCreate a landscape editorial hero image for this Studio Global article: What is the reported U.S. plan to end military aid to Iraq’s approximately 180,000-member Kurdish Peshmerga force by allowing the 2016 secur. Article summary: The reported plan is not an announced final policy but a Pentagon indication to Kurdish leaders that it does not intend to renew the U.S.–Kurdistan Regional Government security-assistance memorandum when it expires on Se. Topic tags: general, news, general web. Style: premium digital editorial illustration, source-backed research mood, clean composition, high detail, modern web publication hero. Use reference image context only for broad subject, composition, and topical grounding; do not copy the exact image. Avoid: logos, brand marks, copyrighted characters, real person likenesses, fake screenshots, UI text, readable text, watermarks, charts with fake numbers
Reports that the United States could end military assistance to Iraq’s Kurdish Peshmerga describe a reported Pentagon intention—not an officially confirmed final policy—to allow the current security memorandum with the Kurdistan Regional Government to expire without renewal.
The agreement is due to end on September 30, the same date as the planned withdrawal of the last US and coalition forces from Iraq and the expected conclusion of the international military operation against the Islamic State (ISIS), a terrorist organization designated as such in several countries. 1
What could change
The memorandum was first signed in 2016 and most recently renewed in 2022. It supported efforts to reform and unify the Peshmerga, a Kurdish force of roughly 180,000 personnel that became a key US partner in the campaign against ISIS. 1
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If the agreement expires without being replaced or extended, the current direct US assistance mechanism for the Peshmerga would come to an end. Reports indicate that about $61 million was allocated in fiscal year 2026 for equipment, training and payments to the Kurdish forces. 1
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That would not necessarily mean an immediate rupture between Washington and Erbil. Diplomatic relations could continue, and the two sides could seek other forms of cooperation outside the existing security framework.
How the move fits the Iraq withdrawal
September 30 is significant because the US and other coalition members are also expected to withdraw their remaining forces from Iraq on that date. The international military operation against ISIS would then formally conclude, and the remaining US military facility in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, is expected to close. 1
Under the transition, Iraqi security forces are expected to take primary responsibility for counterterrorism operations. The approach would place domestic security more firmly under the authority of Iraq’s central government and reflect Washington’s stated aim of strengthening Iraqi sovereignty. 1
For the Peshmerga, however, the shift could mean less direct American support and reduced US influence over the development of Kurdish forces. Cooperation with the Peshmerga has involved not only equipment and training, but also efforts to reform and unify units associated with different political centers within the Kurdistan Region. 2
Why Washington may be changing its approach
The reported strategy would move the US from a multilateral military mission toward a bilateral relationship with Iraq. Washington is reportedly seeking to preserve diplomatic ties and could pursue future defense cooperation directly with Baghdad. Its stated objectives include transferring greater responsibility for national security to Iraq and limiting the influence of armed groups aligned with Iran. 1
The withdrawal and closure of the Erbil facility could also reduce the exposure of US personnel to missile and drone attacks from Iran or Iran-backed groups, according to analysts cited in the reporting. The trade-off could be a loss of some US operational influence and fewer opportunities to support Kurdish forces directly in the fight against ISIS. 1
Why the status of the aid remains uncertain
Kurdish officials dispute the idea that a final decision has already been made. They say the Peshmerga Ministry has not received official notification that funding will end and that assistance and cooperation continue under the current memorandum. 2
Reports of a complete cutoff should therefore be treated cautiously. At least three scenarios remain possible: the memorandum could expire without replacement, the parties could agree on a new arrangement, or it could be extended at the last minute. Available reporting supports the claim that Washington does not currently intend to renew the existing mechanism, but it does not establish that the final process has been completed. 1
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The bottom line
A decision not to renew the agreement would form part of a broader transition from the international military campaign in Iraq to greater responsibility for Iraqi security forces. For Washington, it could reduce the risks faced by American personnel and reinforce the emphasis on Iraqi sovereignty. For the Peshmerga, it would create uncertainty over funding, training and the future scope of US involvement.
The most accurate description for now is this: the United States reportedly does not intend to extend the agreement after September 30, but Kurdish authorities say they have not been given formal confirmation that a final decision has been made. 1
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What is the short answer to "US may let Peshmerga security agreement expire as forces leave Iraq"?
The Pentagon has reportedly told Kurdish leaders that it does not plan to renew the security assistance memorandum after September 30, potentially ending the current direct aid framework, including about $61 million a...
What are the key points to validate first?
The Pentagon has reportedly told Kurdish leaders that it does not plan to renew the security assistance memorandum after September 30, potentially ending the current direct aid framework, including about $61 million a... The agreement’s expiration coincides with the planned withdrawal of US and coalition forces from Iraq, the formal end of the international anti ISIS operation and the closure of the US facility in Erbil.
What should I do next in practice?
Kurdish officials say they have received no formal notification of a final cutoff and maintain that US assistance and cooperation are continuing under the existing arrangement.
Sources
bbc.comUS plans to cut off military aid to key Middle East ally, BBC told
thenationalnews.comIraq's Kurdistan Region says US military support not ending ...
binance.comTrump Administration Plans To End Security Aid For Iraq's ...
storychase.coTrump Administration Plans to End Military Aid to Kurdish ...