On Thursday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with Vice Admiral Edward Ahlgren, the UK Defense Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa.

Their discussions addressed the issue of bringing arms under the control of the Federal Government of Iraq, ongoing efforts to unify the Peshmerga forces, and the latest security developments in the region.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi set a September 30 deadline for Iran-backed Iraqi factions to disarm. This is the same date that the U.S.-led Coalition forces based at Erbil International Airport will leave the Kurdistan Region.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani expressed his gratitude for the UK’s continued support in providing military training and security advice to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. He highlighted the importance of continued coordination and joint efforts to confront the remnants of ISIS and broader terrorist threats.

For his part, Vice Admiral Ahlgren reaffirmed the UK’s dedication to its relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, emphasizing the importance of maintaining stability in the country. He reiterated the UK’s readiness to continue cooperation and strengthen its security and military partnership with both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.