Masrour Barzani
Masrour Barzani is the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq and a senior figure in the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). He is a central leader in the Kurdish struggle for autonomy and a key security partner in the regional fight against Iranian-backed militias and ISIS.
Masrour Barzani has served as the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq since June 2019. A member of the influential Barzani family, he previously headed the Kurdistan Region Security Council, where he oversaw intelligence and counter-terrorism operations. His leadership is characterized by a firm stance on Kurdish sovereignty and a strategic alignment with Western interests, particularly in maintaining stability in northern Iraq amidst pressure from Baghdad and Tehran.
For Israel and the broader pro-Western architecture in the Middle East, Barzani represents a pragmatic leadership that has historically maintained a discreet but stable relationship with Jerusalem. The Kurdish region under his family's leadership has often been viewed as a natural ally due to shared security concerns regarding Iranian expansionism. However, this position has made the KRG—and Barzani personally—a frequent target of Iranian aggression. The IRGC and its proxies often justify attacks on Erbil by claiming it hosts Israeli intelligence assets, a charge the KRG consistently denies.
Recent developments have seen an escalation in direct threats against Barzani. In August 2026, his office and the residence of a senior intelligence official in the Pirmam area were targeted by Iranian-made "Hadid-110" drones. While Barzani accused Tehran of a "reckless" escalation, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has issued denials. This friction occurs as his brother, President Nechirvan Barzani, is reported to be mediating between the U.S. administration and Iranian officials. Masrour Barzani remains a pivotal figure in ensuring that the Kurdish autonomous region remains a resilient bulwark against radical regional actors.