A Kurdish security expert has warned that the number of Kurds in Iraq’s army has dropped to less than one percent, calling it a systematic exclusion that violates the Iraqi constitution.
Abdulkhaliq Talat said the reduction reflects a deliberate policy to marginalize Kurds and Sunnis in Iraq’s defense institutions. He argued that the Iraqi army, once unified and professional under Kurdish leadership, has become sectarian and politically influenced.
“Since the formation of the Iraqi army in 1921, Kurds played a major role,” Talat said. “Today, our share is less than one percent — this was planned.” He explained that when Kurdish officers retire, they are replaced by others from dominant political groups, erasing Kurdish representation over time.
Talat pointed to the period of General Babakir Zebari, a Kurdish Chief of Staff from 2003 to 2015, as an era of professionalism and national balance. “The army was strong when Zebari led it,” he said. “His removal followed a plan to weaken Kurdish influence.”
He also noted that the constitution requires equal representation of all Iraqi communities, yet six articles related to security have been violated. Talat blamed the rise of militias integrated into the army, saying it undermines national unity.
He urged Kurdish leaders to present a unified position in Baghdad to reclaim constitutionally guaranteed posts. “We have the expertise,” he said, “but we need unity to restore our rightful place.”