According to four sources with direct knowledge, the Trump administration intends to end military assistance to an important Middle East partner that supported US efforts against the Islamic State group and now endures intense strikes from Iran.

Defense Department officials informed leaders from Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region during recent discussions that the current security assistance agreement for the Peshmerga forces will not be renewed once it expires.

The BBC consulted two officials involved in those talks along with two additional sources who possess firsthand information. All spoke anonymously when describing the conversations, which had not been reported previously.

Kurdish leaders worry that losing the funding will leave a security gap and encourage Iran, which has launched hundreds of missiles and drones toward Iraqi Kurdistan since the conflict with Tehran began.

Analysts noted that terminating the assistance would weaken a long-standing partner in Iraq and signal that the United States may not reliably support its regional allies.

Yerevan Saeed, director of the Global Kurdish Initiative for Peace at American University, stated that the United States would be abandoning the Kurds after they sacrificed greatly to assist American objectives across Iraq and the broader Middle East.

He added that such a move would represent a significant advantage for Iran, China, and Russia if the Kurds are left without adequate protection.

During his second term, Trump has committed to scaling back US involvement in areas such as the Middle East while also initiating the conflict with Iran, which marked its six-month point on Friday without resolution.

The existing memorandum between the Pentagon and the Kurdish Regional Government expires on 30 September, coinciding with the final withdrawal of US and coalition troops from Iraq.

This departure will conclude the international campaign against IS, during which Peshmerga units fought alongside coalition forces to reclaim territory in Iraq and Syria. The last US military installation in the country, situated in Irbil, will close next month following the troop exit.

The Peshmerga, numbering roughly 180,000 personnel in Iraqi Kurdistan, obtained 61 million dollars in fiscal year 2026 for equipment, training, and payments via the Pentagon's counter-IS initiative.

The Pentagon sought to eliminate all such assistance in its fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, citing the defeat of IS as reason to redirect funds, though the overall spending plan remains stalled due to congressional budget disputes.

While the proposal caused concern in Iraqi Kurdistan, officials previously hoped for an extension of the existing arrangement to continue the support.

Those concerns have intensified amid rising Iranian attacks on the KRG. By late May, Iran and affiliated militias had carried out 158 missile or drone strikes within Iraqi Kurdistan, based on data from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Despite the increase in attacks, Pentagon officials informed Iraqi and Kurdish counterparts in recent meetings that no extension of the memorandum is planned, according to multiple sources. The original agreement dates to 2016, with a renewal in 2022.

One source indicated that a final decision on future security cooperation remains under review, with the US exploring options to retain limited support in Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan after the withdrawal.

The KRG offered no comment. The White House directed inquiries to the Pentagon, whose spokesperson referenced a statement on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's July meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.

The statement noted that the United States, Iraq, and coalition partners have succeeded in defeating ISIS and that Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga, will now lead efforts against remaining terrorists.

A State Department spokesperson emphasized focus on completing the troop withdrawal and enabling Prime Minister Zaidi to address Iran-aligned militias while protecting Iraqi sovereignty.

The end of Peshmerga security aid would occur less than a year after the United States opened its largest consulate worldwide in Irbil.

At the December opening of the 800 million dollar facility, senior State Department official Michael Rigas described it as evidence of the strong ties between the United States and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

Discussions on Kurdish security formed part of broader talks among the US, Iraqi government, and KRG regarding the troop withdrawal, which stems from a 2024 agreement between Washington and Baghdad.

Former ambassador James Jeffrey, who led the global coalition against IS during Trump's first term, argued that continued support for the Peshmerga would prevent repeating past errors.

He described the funding as well spent, recalling the consequences when Islamic State forces advanced into northern Iraq.

The Trump administration has not disclosed exact troop numbers remaining in Iraq from the campaign against IS. Experts estimate fewer than 1,000 personnel, compared with 170,000 at the peak of the Iraq War.

Recent security meetings involved the White House along with Defense and State Departments, with Tom Barrack serving as a key voice on Iraq, according to four sources. Barrack, a close Trump ally, holds the position of US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Iraq and Syria.

The administration has expressed openness to a bilateral security pact with Iraq. Such an agreement was discussed in the meetings, though details on its structure and the role of Iraqi Kurdistan remain unclear.

Prime Minister al-Zaidi highlighted the troop withdrawal during his Washington visit last month, where he met with Trump, Hegseth, and congressional members.

His office stated that 1 October would mark a new chapter for Iraq as it becomes free of foreign military presence.

Analysts observed that the withdrawal will lessen risks to US troops targeted by Iran during the conflict, including strikes on the Irbil base.

However, expert Jason Campbell, a former defense official now at the Middle East Institute, warned that the move will leave the Peshmerga and the areas they protect more exposed to Iranian threats.

He noted that the Peshmerga have served on the front lines of the international campaign against ISIS and that proceeding with the cut would make the Kurds particularly vulnerable targets.