KRG neutrality pledge as Iraq sets militia disarm deadline

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said on Saturday that the semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq intends to remain outside the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

His statement comes after months of instability in which regional officials say the KRG has suffered damage from more than 1,000 missile and drone strikes since February 28, 2026, including hits on infrastructure.

KRG ties its stance to Baghdad’s security track

Barzani’s comments were framed alongside a push to align with Baghdad’s broader security objectives, according to the information provided. The KRG administration is backing the federal government’s mandate to bring all weapons under state authority.

Prime Minister Ali a-Zaidi has set a September 30 deadline for all paramilitary factions to disarm. The KRG supports the measure, describing it as a way to reduce the leverage of non-state armed actors.

Regional infrastructure hit as Erbil stresses non-belligerence

Barzani described the recent strikes on KRG infrastructure as unjustified. He also said the KRG has no diplomatic relations with Israel, underscoring the regional government’s effort to distance itself from the wider hostilities.

Officials have not provided additional detail in the source text on who carried out the attacks or how the strikes were distributed across locations. The scale cited—over 1,000 incidents since late February—highlights the pressure on the KRG as it argues it is not a party to the war.

US forces and Iran-aligned militias complicate neutrality

The regional security environment remains volatile as Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in Iraq face increasing pressure to participate in the broader conflict, according to the source material. That dynamic adds another layer of uncertainty for Erbil as it seeks to avoid being drawn into escalation.

At the same time, the presence of US forces in Erbil and the strategic positioning of Iranian-aligned militias are cited as key factors complicating the KRG’s effort to preserve neutrality and protect what it calls its sovereign infrastructure.

It remains unclear, based on the information provided, how quickly Baghdad can enforce the weapons consolidation mandate across all factions by the September 30 deadline, or whether armed groups will comply. For the KRG, the stated is to stay outside the conflict while supporting federal steps aimed at limiting non-state actors and reducing the drivers of further strikes.

Implications