Peshmerga Minister Attends Coalition Command Handover Ceremony in Jordan

PUKMEDIA

Peshmerga Affairs Minister Shorsh Ismail attended the Coalition command handover ceremony in Jordan.

Kurdistan Region Minister of Peshmerga Shorsh Ismail, accompanied by Lieutenant General Isa Ozeir, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Peshmerga, attended the handover ceremony for the Combined Joint Task Force command in Iraq and Syria on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, at the invitation of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM).

The ceremony was held at the Coalition headquarters in Jordan and presided over by Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of CENTCOM. During the ceremony, command of the Coalition forces in Iraq and Syria was transferred from Major General Kevin Lambert to Rear Admiral Liam M. Hulin.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, Minister Ismail praised the Coalition forces for their recent efforts, highlighting Major General Lambert’s significant role in advancing the ongoing military reform process within the Peshmerga forces and maintaining coordination between the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs and the Coalition.

Ismail wished Major General Lambert success in his new position, congratulated Rear Admiral Hulin on his appointment and reaffirmed the Ministry’s readiness to continue and strengthen joint cooperation.

During the delegation’s visit to Amman, a joint meeting was also held between representatives of the Jordanian Ministry of Defence, the Iraqi Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs.

The meeting was attended by Minister Shorsh Ismail, Lieutenant General Isa Ozeir, General Abdel Amir Rashid Yarallah, Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army, and Major General Yousif Ahmed Al-Hnaity, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces. The Commander of the Jordanian Joint Forces and the Chief of the General Staff of the Syrian Army and Armed Forces also participated in the meeting.

The participants discussed coordination and relations among the participating parties to safeguard regional security and shared borders, while strengthening cooperation amid significant security challenges in the region.

They stressed the importance of continued joint action to ensure mutual security and further enhance military cooperation.

The participants also called for closer military collaboration and stronger operational coordination on the ground, agreeing that regional developments require greater coordination and unified efforts. They noted that protecting borders and addressing security threats are shared responsibilities that must be upheld to strengthen the ability of regional states to safeguard their security, sovereignty and stability.



PUKMEDIA