On 28 September, Al-Kornet al-Kata'ibi (KSS — affiliated) relayed a Peshmerga statement expressing concern that the Kurdistan Region would lack an air-defence system after U.S. forces withdrew. It attributed to the Peshmerga a figure of more than a thousand drone and missile attacks in recent months. 964media separately reported the Peshmerga Ministry’s concern about the 30 September U.S. and coalition departure and its position that Baghdad is responsible for the Region’s airspace.
- Al-Kornet al-Kata'ibiKSS — affiliated28 Sept, 15:03
“The Peshmerga: The withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Region came at a very sensitive time. Leaving the Kurdistan Region without an air-defence system is a concern, especially as we have faced more than a thousand drone and missile attacks in recent months.”
البيشمركة: جاء انسحاب القوات الأميركية من الإقليم في وقت حساس جدا، كما أن ترك إقليم كردستان دون توفير أي نظام دفاعي هو محل قلق، لا سيما أنه خلال الأشهر الماضية تعرضنا لأكثر من ألف هجوم بالطائرات المسيرة والصواريخ
- 964media28 Sept, 15:42
“The Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs said the departure of U.S. and coalition forces on Sept. 30 will leave the Kurdistan Region without any air defence system, and that protecting the Region’s airspace is the federal government’s responsibility.”
The ministry’s warning places responsibility for an anticipated air-defence gap in the federal security debate as the coalition transition approaches.