President Nechirvan Barzani meets with US Secretary of Defense General Lloyd Austin

Today, Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Lloyd Austin, the US Secretary of Defense, has arrived in the Kurdistan Region and met with President Nechirvan Barzani in Erbil. Shortly after their meeting, President Nechirvan Barzani and US Secretary of Defense General Loyed Austin, held a press conference about the contents of their discussions.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reiterated his country's support for the Peshmerga forces in the fight against ISIS terrorists.

"We will remain in Iraq and continue to support Iraqi forces and the Peshmerga in the fight against ISIS. In the past, we collaborated with the Kurdistan Region." Austin stated.

In another section of the press conference, the US Secretary of Defense praised the Peshmerga Ministry's efforts to reunite the 70th and 80th brigades, saying that the US appreciates the steps taken to reunite the Peshmerga forces.

Meanwhile, Kurdistan Regional President Nechirvan Barzani expressed gratitude to the US for its ongoing support for the Peshmerga forces and the Kurdistan Region.

"We discussed issues between Erbil and Baghdad, Peshmerga reunification, and coordination between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi army," he said.