Iraq’s federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government are stepping up security and political coordination, with Erbil backing Baghdad’s push to bring weapons under state control while working to bridge differences between Iraq and Syria, informed sources said.
The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani’s recent visit to Damascus helped ease mutual concerns between Baghdad and Damascus over bilateral ties and unresolved political and security issues.
They said Barzani carried messages between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and helped pave the way for a possible visit by al-Zaidi to Damascus.
The diplomatic push comes as Baghdad seeks closer security coordination with Erbil, including over efforts to place weapons exclusively under state control.
The State Administration Coalition, which includes major political forces and the president of the Kurdistan Region, has made the issue a priority.
According to a press statement, the coalition set Sept. 30 as the deadline for armed factions to surrender their weapons, warning that those who refuse could face action under the counterterrorism law.
Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said his government supported Baghdad’s efforts to bring weapons under state control and did not want the region drawn into any regional conflict.
In televised remarks carried by Kurdish media on Saturday, Barzani said the Kurdistan Region had been hit by more than 1,000 rocket and drone attacks, some originating from Iran and others launched from inside Iraq by armed factions.
He denied that US troops were stationed at Harir Air Base in Erbil, saying there had been no US military presence there for about 10 years.
Barzani said the region had not been pressured to join the war and that its priority was to protect its territory and remain outside regional conflicts.
Security coordination
Political and security sources said cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil extended beyond the weapons issue to intelligence and security information-sharing and coordination on domestic security matters.
Majid Shingali, a senior Kurdistan Democratic Party official, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Kurdistan Region backed efforts to bring weapons under state control and supported al-Zaidi’s government on the issue.
He said the region was among the areas hardest hit by attacks carried out by armed factions during the war between the United States and Iran.
Some strikes targeted facilities and oilfields and disrupted the operations of companies working in the region, he added.
On the US presence, Shingali said Harir Air Base hosted no American forces, but that Iraqi-US security coordination continued in Erbil, similar to arrangements in Baghdad.
Security expert Sarmad al-Bayati said coordination between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government operated on several levels, including intelligence cooperation and the exchange of information and wanted individuals.
He also said Harir Air Base was free of US forces, while Iraqi-US security coordination continued around Erbil airport under arrangements similar to those at Baghdad airport.
The Kurdistan Regional Government denies having official relations with Israel, while Barzani has said foreign policy is the responsibility of the federal government.
He also said the region’s ties with Damascus were developing and that relations with Türkiye were good and marked by cooperation.
