On Sunday, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani discussed the importance of cooperation between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Army in confronting security threats with Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah, Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Armed Forces.

Lieutenant General Yarallah briefed Prime Minister Barzani on the purpose of the delegation’s visit to the Kurdistan Region, which was undertaken at the direction of Federal Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to follow up on efforts to preserve security and stability, particularly to prevent and put an end to threats against oil companies and the targeting of their facilities.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his appreciation — and that of the KRG — for Prime Minister al-Zaidi’s follow-up and assurances regarding the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region. He reaffirmed the KRG’s full support in this regard and stressed the importance of strengthening coordination and cooperation between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Army in confronting security threats.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also received the high-ranking Iraqi military delegation led by Lieutenant General Yarallah in a meeting attended by the Minister of Peshmerga Affairs and the Chief of Staff of the Peshmerga.

The Kurdistan Region Presidency said that the purpose of the visit was to assess the security challenges facing oil companies in the Kurdistan Region, in coordination with the Peshmerga forces and relevant parties, and to provide the necessary assurances for the resumption of oil production and exports.

Before and after the conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran that began on February 28, there have been several attacks on oil facilities in the Kurdistan Region.

During the meeting, President Nechirvan Barzani congratulated the Iraqi Army on its successes against terrorism, achieved in cooperation with the Peshmerga forces as part of the Iraqi national defense system. He also expressed hope for continued cooperation and partnership in addressing security gaps in areas where terrorists remain active. 

The meeting also addressed the need for a joint strategy and security partnership between the Iraqi Army and the Peshmerga forces to maintain stability and combat terrorism and its associated threats.

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Last month, KRG Prime Minister Barzani made his first trip to Baghdad since the formation of Iraq's new government under Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.

In a post on X, Aziz Ahmad, Deputy Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Barzani, said that during the visit Prime Minister Barzani followed up on security assurances to allow oil and gas companies in the Kurdistan Region to resume production and exports since companies cannot be expected to resume operations amid the threat of drones in the skies.

On June 3, a delegation to Baghdad led by KRG Minister of Natural Resources Kamal Mohammed and including representatives from oil companies in the Kurdistan Region met with Iraqi Prime Minister al-Zaidi, who outlined steps to ensure the protection and continuity of oil companies’ operations in the Kurdistan Region.