Gregory LoGerfo, the United States Coordinator for Counterterrorism, has praised the Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga forces for their sacrifices and decisive role in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), stressing that their contributions "must never be forgotten" and that the gains achieved against the militant group must be safeguarded.

In an exclusive interview with Kurdistan 24 on Tuesday, LoGerfo highlighted the importance of the long-standing partnership between the United States and the Peshmerga, as well as Kurdish forces in Syria, in counterterrorism operations.

"I served in Iraq and spent time in Erbil, where I became familiar with the Peshmerga. They are one of our most important partners," LoGerfo said. Reflecting on his deployments to Iraq in 2010 and 2021, he noted that he had witnessed firsthand the commitment and sacrifices of the Peshmerga in combating terrorism.

"The Peshmerga made significant sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, and we continue to rely on them," he added.

Addressing ongoing efforts to prevent the resurgence of ISIS in Iraq, Syria, and the Kurdistan Region, LoGerfo said the international coalition had successfully dismantled the group's self-declared caliphate but warned that the threat has not been completely eliminated.

"Together with our partners, we destroyed ISIS's caliphate, but there is still more work to be done," he said. "What we achieved was a major accomplishment, and it must be protected."

LoGerfo also commented on the broader issue of political terrorism, describing it as "any act intended to intimidate people from participating in the democratic process." He reaffirmed Washington's commitment to countering such threats and supporting democratic institutions.

The United States continues to work closely with the Iraqi Security Forces and the Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga through the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. While the militant group lost control of its territorial caliphate in Iraq and Syria in 2019, coalition officials have consistently warned that ISIS sleeper cells remain active and continue to pose security threats across both countries.