ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Speakers at a panel in Washington on Tuesday urged the United States to maintain its support for the Kurdistan Region's security amid continued Iranian attacks, highlighting the Region's role as a refuge for religious and ethnic minorities fleeing conflict and persecution.
The event, titled "Kurdistan: Faith, Tolerance, and Peaceful Coexistence," was held at American University's School of International Service, bringing together religious freedom advocates and experts to discuss the Kurdistan Region's record of protecting diverse communities and the challenges facing its security.
Kurdistan has been a key US ally and a safe haven for refugees, displaced people and diverse communities, they said.
Nadine Maenza, former chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), said Washington could play a greater role in protecting the Region, particularly against threats from neighboring countries.
“The U.S. could still play a big role in helping to support the Kurdistan Region. They are always dealing with a lot of threats, they have a tough neighborhood; a lot of those neighbors are attacking them and sending radical ideas,” Maenza said.
Her remarks come two weeks after the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) completed its withdrawal from Iraq on September 30, ending a 12-year military mission and raising concerns among Kurdish leaders about the Region's security, particularly its ability to defend against missile and drone attacks.
The Kurdistan Region has been targeted by more than 1,000 missiles and drones launched by Iran and its aligned armed groups in Iraq since the United States and Israel began their military campaign against Iran on February 28, according to Rudaw's monitoring.
The attacks have targeted military installations, positions belonging to Iranian Kurdish opposition groups and civilian infrastructure, despite repeated assurances from Kurdish leaders that the Region is not a party to the conflict.
Maenza said the United States could help defend the Kurdistan Region against Iranian attacks while continuing to support its tradition of coexistence among religious and ethnic communities.
The withdrawal of coalition forces has heightened concerns over Iraq's air defense capabilities.
In late September, the Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs warned that the withdrawal had come at a sensitive time, stressing that leaving the Region without adequate air defense systems was a cause for concern.
The ministry also emphasized that the Iraqi federal government bears primary responsibility for protecting the country's airspace.
Despite the withdrawal, US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins told Rudaw in September that Washington would remain committed to the security of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, with American forces stationed elsewhere in the Middle East prepared to respond to emerging threats.
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani also warned ahead of the coalition's departure that there were no guarantees against a resurgence of ISIS similar to its 2014 offensive, when the extremist group seized Mosul and large parts of northern and western Iraq.
"The Americans left, and Daesh appeared right away. I fear the same scenario will happen," Barzani said in an interview with al-Sharqiya, referring to the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq in 2011.
During the war against ISIS, the Kurdistan Region became a refuge for large numbers of Iraqis displaced by the extremist group's offensive, including Yazidis and Christians fleeing persecution.
The Region has also hosted hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees, with the United Nations refugee agency reporting that the overwhelming majority of refugees in Iraq reside in the Kurdistan Region.
Tuesday's discussion was organized through American University's Global Kurdish Initiative for Peace, which promotes research, public dialogue and policy discussions concerning Kurdish affairs.
Karis Cambra, an attendee, said the event helped raise awareness about the Kurdistan Region and provided an opportunity for participants to exchange ideas.
"I think the conference was great. It brought new light to the Kurdistan Region and how we help out the region. It brought great people together to share ideas and to just bring more light to the conversation. I hope we can move forward and bring great strides for Kurdistan," Cambra said.
Another attendee, Flint Arthur, said uncertainty remained over Washington's long-term approach to the Kurds.
"At this conference, I think what I took away from it was that there is still a lot of ambiguity in the United States government as an institution about its approach currently and in the future to Kurds and Kurdistan. The United States is trying to decide what its agenda is and to what extent it will involve Kurds," Arthur said.
