Barzani denies US troops at Harir base, says Kurdish foreign policy follows Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said on television that the region's foreign policy follows the federal government in Baghdad, and rejected claims that Harir Air Base has been used to launch attacks on Iran or hosts U.S. military personnel. Barzani said the base has no military forces and no American soldiers, and that U.S. forces completed their mission and withdrew from Iraq under an agreement with the federal government. He added that previous foreign military presence in the region was limited to counterterrorism operations and conducted in coordination with Baghdad. Barzani also dismissed any alleged ties with Israel, reiterating that Kurdistan is part of Iraq and that foreign policy falls under federal authority. On relations with the federal government, Barzani identified incomplete implementation of the constitution and deviations from the federal system as the core issues. He called for the passage of an oil and gas law and a resolution of the disputed areas under Article 140.