ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq—Germany’s defense minister Boris Pistorius arrived in Erbil on Thursday and met with Nechirvan Barzani, the president of the Kurdistan Region, discussing the latest developments in Syria, and Berlin’s relations with Baghdad and Erbil.

Pistorius is on a two-day visit to the Middle East. He first visited Jordan and the Iraqi capital of Baghdad before coming to Erbil.

“The latest developments in Syria, their implications on the mission and activities of the international coalition against Daesh [ISIS], as well as Iraq’s situation as a whole, were discussed in the meeting,” according to a statement by the Kurdistan Region Presidency.

Both sides “exchanged views” on relations between Germany and Iraq.

“President Nechirvan Barzani… hailed Germany’s role in supporting Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in the fight against Daesh,” the presidency added.

The German defense minister, for his part, reaffirmed Berlin’s commitment to supporting Baghdad and Erbil across various sectors and said Germany’s military mission would continue their work in Iraq. 

The German defense minister on Wednesday met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, and his Iraqi counterpart Sabit Abbasi, discussing joint cooperation.

Sudani hailed Germany’s crucial role in NATO’s mission and within the framework of the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS).

Germany has been a key member of the coalition against ISIS, providing decisive military support to the Iraqi and Kurdish forces since 2014. Berlin has military bases in Erbil and Baghdad. German troops are also in Iraq as part of NATO’s mission.

Sudani and Pistorius also discussed the latest regional developments, and the EU’s role in “normalizing the situation in Syria" and preserving the country’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The Assad family’s five decades of rule spectacularly came to an end as a result of a 10-day sweeping offensive spearheaded by rebel groups led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Soon after the Damascus regime's downfall, opposition groups formed an interim government under Mohammed al-Bashir's leadership until March 1.

Updated at 10:35 with a readout of the meeting by the Kurdistan Region Presidency