In a video message in Kurdish and English on August 18, the newly appointed U.S. Consul General in Erbil Steve Bitner underlined that the United States is looking to build strong security cooperation with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

”This is part of our shared key commitment to build a professional and capable force to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. By working together, we can address persistent security threats to the United States, the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the rest of the region,” Bitner said.

Bitner and the newly appointed commander of the anti-ISIS Coalition, U.S. Major General Kevin Leahy, also met with the KRG President Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and Minister of Peshmerga Affairs Shoresh Ismail in mid-August.

The U.S. Consulate General in a post on X on August 23 said they “reaffirm our shared commitment to maintaining Iraq’s security and underscore the importance of continuing peshmerga reform efforts.”

Meanwhile, on August 22, Prime Minister Barzani welcomed Leahy, congratulating him on his new position and reaffirming the Kurdistan Region’s continued support of the United States and its allies.

Leahy, who is responsible for the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, emphasized the importance of cooperation and the value of the joint struggle of the Kurdistan Region and the United States.

The progress in the unification of peshmerga forces and the reforms related to the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs (MoPA) were another topic of discussion during the meeting.

The United States, the UK, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands are part of the multi-national advisory group that supports the peshmerga reform project to create a united peshmerga force.

According to a report from the Pentagon’s Inspector General published on August 1, coalition advisors are working with the MoPA to implement a four-year reform plan agreed upon between the U.S. Department of Defense and KRG.

A key element of the reform plan is the transfer of all forces belonging to the two biggest political parties – the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party– to the command of the MoPA by September 2016.

Bolstering peshmerga capabilities

The United States and Germany in the month of August provided weapons and equipment to the Kurdish peshmerga forces, demonstrating the ongoing support of coalition countries in strengthening the peshmerga’s capabilities.

During a ceremony on August 6, several lightweight 105-mm howitzers were provided to the First and Second Support Forces Command of the MoPA by the United States.

In a post on X, the U.S. Consulate General said that this move marks a significant milestone in building the capacity of the peshmerga forces. “This weaponry will enhance the peshmerga forces’ collective security capabilities to ensure the enduring Iraqi-led defeat of ISIS.”

During the ceremony, MoPA Chief of Staff Issa Ozer also underlined that the peshmerga continue to need the support of the U.S.-led coalition in terms of weapons, logistics, and training.

He emphasized that the peshmerga have been the frontline force against ISIS, leading the charge in defeating the most significant terrorist threat. “Ongoing military support is essential to prevent the resurgence of ISIS and terrorism in the region,” he said.

During the event, the outgoing U.S. Consul General Mark Stroh stated that these weapons will improve “the military capabilities of peshmerga forces to ensure public security and defeat ISIS.”

Moreover, the German Armed Forces on August 15 handed over 400 backpacks with high-quality medical materiel, six forklifts, and four lift trucks for material handling to the MoPA. This was in addition to providing several hundred meters of shelf systems for the main warehouse of the peshmerga. 

A three-week "train the trainer" course was previously conducted by the German Mobile Medical Training Team to support the use of the backpacks. Additionally, the shelf systems, forklifts, and lift trucks are intended to enhance storage conditions and improve material handling for the Peshmerga forces.

The German Armed Forces have supported the peshmerga since 2015 during the fight against ISIS, noted Commander of the German Armed Forces in Erbil Colonel Lars Persikowski during the handover ceremony on August 15.

“German support to the peshmerga became most visible with the handover of the MILAN anti-tank missiles; additionally, assault rifles, like the G-36, as well as armored vehicles, like the DINGO, helped the peshmerga successfully defeat ISIS terrorists,” he said.

In 2014, then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel decided to supply the peshmerga with G-36 rifles and MILAN anti-tank missiles, which were effective in stopping ISIS armored vehicles.

However, Colonel Persikowski warned that the fight against ISIS is not over, despite their territorial defeat in Iraq in December 2017. 

“The ideology is still alive. ISIS must be prevented from regaining the ability to endanger peace in this region. Therefore, the German Armed Forces – as part of the U.S.-led coalition – continue to support the KRG by enhancing the capabilities of the Kurdish Armed Forces under the MoPA,” he stated.

He also underlined that the German Armed Forces have implemented various projects in Kurdistan and will continue to carry out new ones. This is part of the Enable and Enhance Initiatives that have been coordinated by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defense and Federal Foreign Office.

The German Armed Forces say that these initiatives make it possible to provide material support, infrastructure measures, training, and advisory activities for the peshmerga.

Additionally, Germany’s Consulate General in Erbil on July 4 announced that the MoPA and German Armed Forces had launched a joint project worth €3.2 million in Erbil.

Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder told reporters on August 20 that Iraqi security forces writ large, which includes the peshmerga, have played a vital role in terms of reducing the threat that ISIS poses.

“But as we’ve seen in places like Afghanistan, left unchecked, ISIS can start to make a resurgence. And so again, we’ll continue to work with our Iraqi partners, our peshmerga partners to address this threat.”

Wladimir van Wilgenburg is a seasoned reporter and analyst who specializes in Kurdish affairs, and holds a Master’s degree in Kurdish studies from Exeter University.