Middle East
American officer (middle) and Peshmerga forces during a US divestment of weapons to the Kurdish forces in January, 2022. Photo: handout
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US President Joe Biden on Monday requested over five hundred million dollars from the 2023 budget for the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, with the funds to be allocated to training and equipping local forces allied to America in both countries.
Out of the $773 billion budget, Biden proposed $541 million for forces in Iraq and Syria, according to details of the budget request published by the US Department of Defense.
Iraqi forces are to receive $358 million, with $183 million to be given to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria (Rojava).
The Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces are considered part of the Iraqi forces and have received weapons, salaries, training, and equipment from the US.
The US coalition’s combat mission in Iraq ended in December but continues in Syria. The force continues its advisory mission with the Iraqi and Peshmerga forces.
The new budget request for 2023 is an increase of around $58 billion from 2022.
The amount dedicated to the fight against ISIS has risen by $19 million compared to the year before as ISIS still remains a threat in the region.
"These investments are as vital as ever, as we face a myriad of challenges," Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hick said regarding the $773 billion budget request at a press conference.
ISIS controlled swathes of Iraq and Syria in 2014 but it was territorially defeated in 2017 and 2019 respectively. However, the militants continue to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions on both sides of the border, particularly in areas disputed by Erbil and Baghdad.
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