Admiral Brad Cooper Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Iraq and Kurdistan in First Visit as CENTCOM Commander
Admiral Brad Cooper, the newly appointed Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), has reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to its military partnerships in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region during his first official visit to the country, CENTCOM announced Friday.
In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said Cooper met with Coalition leaders and U.S. service members from the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR). The commander stressed that the United States would “continue commitment to the mil-to-mil relationship with our Iraqi partners.”
Admiral Cooper also traveled to northeast Syria, where he visited U.S. troops and the al-Hol displaced persons camp. He noted progress in reducing the camps’ populations, now below 30,000 for the first time, and highlighted the importance of repatriation efforts to curb extremist influence among vulnerable groups.
During a visit to Iraq, Adm. Brad Cooper met with Coalition leaders and U.S. service members from the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve for the first time as the commander of U.S. Central Command. He affirmed continued commitment to the mil-to-mil… pic.twitter.com/1s60m0FgGn
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 5, 2025
Earlier in the week, Cooper held high-level meetings in Erbil. On September 2, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani welcomed him, congratulating him on assuming command and expressing appreciation for Washington’s support—particularly in ongoing reforms to unify the Peshmerga forces. General Kevin Lambert, who became CJTF-OIR commander in July, also attended the discussions.
The following day, Cooper met with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Prime Minister Barzani, describing the region as a “key ally and partner of the U.S.” and reiterating America’s support for its security and stability.
The unification of the Peshmerga under the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs remains central to U.S.–Kurdish cooperation. Washington continues to provide training, equipment, and advisory support to strengthen the Kurdish forces and streamline command structures.
Cooper praised the sacrifices of the Peshmerga in the fight against ISIS, reaffirming that U.S. engagement with both Iraqi and Kurdish leaders will remain strong. Since 2014, the U.S.-led coalition has been a strategic partner of Kurdish forces in the campaign that dismantled ISIS’s territorial control in Iraq and Syria.
