Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), has stated that the semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq intends to remain outside the escalating regional conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. During an exclusive interview on Saturday, Barzani emphasized that his administration has faced no external pressure to participate in the hostilities and maintains a firm stance against becoming a party to any regional warfare.
The region has suffered significant infrastructure damage due to over 1,000 drone and missile strikes since the conflict commenced on February 28. These attacks have originated from both Iranian territory and local militias operating within Iraq. Barzani characterized these strikes as “unjustified,” advocating for the resolution of all regional disputes through peaceful dialogue rather than military escalation.
Highlighting the impact of these tensions, Barzani referenced a March incident where the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched five missiles at the al-Harir Air Base near Erbil. The IRGC labeled the site a headquarters for invading US forces; however, Barzani clarified that the facility has been vacant of US personnel for nearly a decade, following the defeat of ISIL. He noted that while US troops remain in the region to combat terrorism, their presence has frequently drawn hostile fire.
Regarding internal security, the KRG is actively supporting Baghdad’s initiative to consolidate military power under state control. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali a-Zaidi has pledged to establish a state monopoly on weaponry, setting a September 30 deadline for all paramilitary factions to disarm. This effort aims to curb the influence of armed groups that have operated with significant autonomy since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
Barzani further clarified the KRG’s diplomatic standing, confirming that the region maintains no official relations with Israel. Conversely, he highlighted strengthening ties with Turkey and Syria, characterized by mutual cooperation. This diplomatic shift was underscored this week when KRG President Nechirvan Barzani met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, marking the first such visit by an Iraqi Kurdish leader since the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad government in December 2024.
The conflict has also placed Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in a precarious position. With Kurds comprising approximately 10 percent of Iran’s population, both the US and Israel have floated the possibility of arming these fighters to challenge the Iranian government. Consequently, opposition bases within the KRG and inside Iran have been placed on high alert as they navigate the front lines of the broader regional power struggle.
The prime minister said the region’s infrastructure has been severely damaged by more than 1,000 missile and drone attacks since the war began on February 28, either directly from Iran or from within Iraq via militias.
