The Kurdistan Region is advancing reforms to unify and strengthen its Peshmerga forces, with strong support from the United States.
US Consul General in Erbil, Gwendolyn Green, recently met with Kurdistan Region officials to review the progress of the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding on military cooperation. She emphasized that the US continues to back reform efforts and stands with the Kurdistan Region to ensure security and stability.
The agreement provides US military and security assistance to the Peshmerga and highlights the importance of internal reforms within the Peshmerga ministry. Officials aim to integrate various Kurdish units into a single, professional, and depoliticized force.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani chaired a high-level meeting to accelerate reforms within the Peshmerga ministry. The meeting produced key decisions, including restructuring and reorganizing Peshmerga units to create a unified command structure.
Integration focuses on Unit 70 and Unit 80, affiliated with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party, respectively. Together, these units form the majority of the Peshmerga, totaling more than 100,000 troops.
Although international partners have consistently supported the unification, the process has faced delays due to internal disputes and past conflicts. Efforts to merge thousands of fighters began in 2010 but slowed during the fight against ISIS. The reform plan resumed in 2018 and now enters its final phase.
Officials in Kurdistan Region expect full unification of the Peshmerga by the end of the year, marking a significant milestone for the Kurdistan Region’s security and stability.