Masrour Barzani: Unifying the Peshmerga is a historic day for Kurdistan
Masrour Barzani: Unifying the Peshmerga is a historic day for Kurdistan
2026-09-21
Shafaq News – Erbil
Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani confirmed on Monday that the process of unifying the Peshmerga forces under the umbrella of the Ministry of Peshmerga and with a single structure “has been successfully completed” and that this is a historic day for Kurdistan, stressing the importance of strengthening and developing its military and defense capabilities in accordance with international standards.
Barzani said during the ceremony announcing the unification of the Peshmerga forces that unifying the Peshmerga forces was a pledge from the first day of the formation of the ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government, adding that reaching this stage came after continuous meetings and work, and within the framework of the memorandum of understanding concluded between the Peshmerga forces and the US Department of War, the Pentagon.
He pointed out that unifying the Peshmerga forces represents a stage within a long process, stressing that the next stage is to strengthen these forces, develop their military and defense capabilities, and train them according to international standards, so that they become an “advanced national professional” force.
Barzani stressed that the Peshmerga, as a constitutional force and part of the Iraqi defense system, needs to strengthen coordination and military cooperation with the Iraqi army, calling for increased coordination to contribute to protecting stability in Iraq.
Barzani reiterated his support for Federal Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on this issue, and called on the federal government to help protect the rights of the Peshmerga forces and ensure they receive their full salaries, like the rest of the armed forces, as they are a constitutional force.
He stressed that party affiliation is a legitimate right, but belonging to the homeland is the basis for every Peshmerga fighter, calling for adherence to the leadership’s decisions according to the military hierarchy, and that the forces should be “above personal and partisan interests,” and not be used to settle internal disputes.
For his part, Peshmerga Minister Shorsh Ismail, during the ceremony, considered the unification of the Peshmerga forces a “great achievement,” appreciating the role of the international coalition led by the United States and the rest of the countries in providing support and assistance to the Peshmerga forces in the areas of training, arming and financing.
Ismail added: “With historical honesty, we announce to the whole world, to the people of Kurdistan, and to the families of the martyrs, that the process of unifying the Peshmerga forces under the national umbrella and under the leadership of the Ministry of Peshmerga has been successfully concluded in a modern manner.”
On Monday morning, at the Kurdistan Region Presidency headquarters in Erbil, the official ceremony for the unification of the Peshmerga forces was launched, under the supervision of the President of the Region, Nechirvan Barzani, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Peshmerga forces, and with the participation of the Prime Minister of the Region, Masrour Barzani, in addition to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Peshmerga and a number of officials, as well as the participation of representatives of the international coalition and diplomatic missions, and the presence of the Director of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Abdul Amir Al-Shammari .
The ceremony represents the culmination of a long reform process, as the Presidency of the Region announced that, as of September 21, 2026, no Peshmerga force will remain outside the framework of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, after overcoming political, organizational and military obstacles that accompanied the project during the past years .
On September 21, 2022, the Ministry of Peshmerga and the US Department of Defense signed a memorandum of understanding under which Washington renewed its support for the forces in confronting ISIS and supporting the reform program within the ministry, which coincides with the unification ceremony today, four years later .
On September 10, the Minister of Peshmerga Affairs, Shorsh Ismail, announced the completion of the integration and reorganization of the forces of Units 70 and 80 within a military structure that includes brigades, divisions, and two military regional commands, under the command and control of the Ministry of Peshmerga, confirming that the two new commands have officially begun their duties .
The Kurdish word “Peshmerga” consists of two parts: “Pesh” meaning “in front of” and “Marg” meaning “death,” and is usually translated as “those who face death” or “those who advance towards death .”
The widespread use of the name to denote an organized military force dates back to the Kurdish Republic of Mahabad, which was declared in Iran in 1946. Kurdish forces formed its army, and among them were fighters led by the historical Kurdish leader, Mulla Mustafa Barzani .
The Peshmerga emerged as an organized force during the stages of the Kurdish liberation movement, especially since the outbreak of the September Revolution in 1961 led by Mulla Mustafa Barzani, before it transformed, following the 1991 uprising and the establishment of the Kurdistan Region institutions, into an official force responsible for protecting the region.
shafaq.com
