Coalition ends Peshmerga financial aid as four-year agreement lapses

The international coalition has ended its financial aid to Iraq's Kurdish Peshmerga forces following the expiry of a four-year memorandum of understanding.

• The Peshmerga Ministry said coalition financial assistance ended after the memorandum, in force since September 2022, expired on September 21, 2026.
• Secretary-General Bakhtyar Mohammad Siddiq said the financial aid for August and September, distributed Thursday, was the final installment and asked the federal government to adjust Peshmerga salaries.
• The Kurdistan Region presidency said coalition forces will not remain after September 30 and announced procedures to unify all Peshmerga forces under the ministry.
• Peshmerga Minister Shorsh Ismail said the aid reduction was not linked to sanctions, with talks with Baghdad on a new agreement underway.
• Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Iraqi forces will secure the country after the international coalition withdraws at the end of this month.