Rebar Ahmed, the Interior Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), welcomed Brig. Gen. Michael Ecker, Commander of the Military Advisory Group of Operation Inherent Resolve, on Sunday. The meeting focused on the ongoing collaboration between the Kurdistan Region and the US-led Coalition forces in the fight against ISIS.

Expressing gratitude, Minister Rebar Ahmed thanked Gen. Michael Ecker for the vital assistance and training provided to Peshmerga forces within the framework of Operation Inherent Resolve. The minister acknowledged the instrumental role of the Coalition forces in combating the remnants of ISIS, highlighting the continued threat posed by the terrorist group despite its territorial defeat in 2019.

During the meeting, Minister Ahmed emphasized the urgent need for more support and protection in the region. The presence of Coalition forces in Iraq has been officially sanctioned by the Iraqi Government, with the understanding that the host country is responsible for ensuring the protection of these forces.

While ISIS suffered territorial losses, it has transformed into an insurgent group, carrying out sporadic hit-and-run attacks against Peshmerga, Iraqi, and Syrian forces, as well as targeting civilian areas. The minister underscored the evolving nature of the threat, contrasting it with the period when the terrorist group held significant territorial control and seized advanced weaponry from Western-backed Syrian rebels and the Iraqi Armed Forces.

The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to the ongoing cooperation in the fight against ISIS, emphasizing the importance of sustained international support to address the evolving challenges posed by the insurgent activities of the terrorist group in the region.