In a phone call with President Masoud Barzani on Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack underscored the importance of the ties between the Kurdistan Region and the United States.

The office of President Masoud Barzani said that, during the exchange, Ambassador Barrack conveyed U.S. President Donald Trump’s greetings to President Barzani and thanked him for his wise leadership and for protecting the region’s stability, security, and development.

Ambassador Barrack reaffirmed that the United States will continue to look to the Kurdistan Region as an ally and friend, and will continue close coordination with the Kurdistan Region. 

Furthermore, he added that the United States will continue to support both the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to find resolutions for outstanding issues in a manner that serves the interests of both sides across all sectors.

President Barzani thanked President Trump and expressed his respect and gratitude. He also thanked Ambassador Barrack for his constructive and influential role.

President Barzani reaffirmed that the Kurdistan Region has always worked to enhance stability for the whole region and to preserve democracy, coexistence, and dialogue, and briefed the special envoy on the recent attacks on the Kurdistan Region by outlawed armed groups.

Both sides agreed on the importance of keeping the Kurdistan Region and Iraq away from the ongoing conflict and ensuring their security and stability.

The call comes amid ongoing attacks on the Kurdistan Region since the beginning of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war on February 28.

On Wednesday, Delavar Ajgeiy, the KRG Representative to the EU, told the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Dutch parliament that the “we have been attacked by more than 250 drones and missiles [since February 28], only in the Kurdistan Region, not other parts of Iraq. These drones were primarily launched by the Shi’a militias in Mosul, in Kirkuk, and other places outside the KRG.”