ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on Thursday praised Italy’s efforts to train Kurdish Peshmerga forces during a meeting with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani in Rome, where the two sides also discussed prospects for bolstered military collaboration following the US-led coalition’s withdrawal from Iraq.

Hussein arrived in the Italian capital on Tuesday in an official visit to the Holy See, during which he also held meetings with a series of Italian officials to discuss issues of mutual interest and bilateral ties.

In a meeting with Tajani, Italy’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Hussein commended Italy’s “continued efforts to train the Federal Ministry of Interior’s police forces and the Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,” according to an Iraqi foreign ministry statement.

The Iraqi minister also extended appreciation for Italy’s position “in support of Iraq over the past years in its fight against terrorism” and the defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS).

Both ministers further discussed prospects for developing security and military cooperation in the coming period, “particularly in light of developments related to the conclusion of the international coalition’s mission in Iraq.”

On September 29, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced that the Italian military completed its withdrawal from Iraq as a part of the global coalition against ISIS, a day ahead of the deadline for all coalition troops to depart.

Prior to the withdrawal, Italy had 300 troops stationed in the Kurdistan Region’s capital Erbil to train Kurdish Peshmerga forces, according to the Italian defense ministry.

In March, under the backdrop of the US-Israeli war on Iran and Iranian targeting of the US military presence in the Kurdistan Region, the Italian military base in Erbil was struck by a missile, with no Italian personnel being killed or wounded.

The US-led coalition completed its withdrawal from all Iraqi territory by September 30 under an agreement between Baghdad and Washington. The withdrawal came after years of cooperation between the coalition and Iraqi and Kurdistan Region forces in the fight against ISIS.

The coalition was brought to Iraq in 2014 at Baghdad’s invitation to help repel the ISIS advance across the country.