Staff Major General Omar Salih Hassan, Commander of Unit 70 Forces, met on Wednesday with Colonel Amanda, the newly appointed U.S. Military Attaché at the U.S. Consulate General in in Erbil.

During the meeting, Hassan reiterated that the unification of the Peshmerga forces is very important and emphasized that all preparations have been completed, stating that Unit 70 is ready to officially integrate into the Ministry of Peshmerga.

In a statement, Unit 70 Forces noted that Major General Omar Salih Hassan underlined the importance of bolstering bilateral relations and provided an overview of Unit 70’s history. He highlighted the unit’s contributions in the struggle against the Baath regime, the liberation of Iraq, and the fight against ISIS.

Hassan also “outlined efforts to establish regional commands and address staffing issues.”

U.S. Military Attaché: Implement MoU with Peshmerga Ministry

Colonel Amanda emphasized continued cooperation between the U.S. and Peshmerga forces. She “stressed the need to implement the MoU between the Ministry of Peshmerga and the U.S. Department of Defense,” highlighting the significance of joint efforts in reform and reorganization.

Peshmerga Ministry Faces Challenges to Unification

Previously, Bakhtiar Mohammed, Secretary General of the Ministry of Peshmerga, stated that the unification of the Peshmerga forces is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025. However, he acknowledged that political and financial obstacles continue to hinder the process.

The Peshmerga Ministry, in coordination with Coalition Forces, had jointly developed a 35-point plan to unify and restructure the Peshmerga. While several brigades have been organized under this framework, a number of provisions remain unimplemented.

Ongoing Assessment of MoU

Last month, the Ministry of Peshmerga conducted its regular assessment of the Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Defense. The ministry reaffirmed the importance of ongoing coordination and joint operations with Coalition Forces, noting that the discussions highlighted the need for unified efforts among all Peshmerga units and international partners.