HR-5232 : Still Just a Bill

The "Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga Forces Defense Act of 2023," also known as H.R. 5232, directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to develop a plan to equip and train Iraqi security forces and Kurdish Peshmerga forces to defend against attacks by missiles, rockets, and unmanned systems.

Key provisions of the bill include:

• A plan of action must be developed by February 1, 2024.
• The plan shall include providing Iraq and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region with equipment, including air defense systems, to counter air and missile threats.
• Appropriate training must be provided to Iraqi security forces and Kurdish Peshmerga forces to support the use of this equipment.
• Implementation of the plan should commence within 90 days of its completion, unless the Secretary of Defense determines that it would adversely impact United States stocks and military readiness.
• The Secretary of Defense must provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees on the progress of the air defense equipping and training effort by July 1, 2024.