KRI President: Peshmerga Forces Belong to All Kurdistan
At a Glance
- The Kurdistan Region officially announced the complete unification of all Peshmerga forces under a single military command structure.
- A high-level ceremony in Erbil brought together regional leaders, international coalition partners, and federal Iraqi representatives.
- The reorganized military apparatus is structured into 11 infantry divisions operating under Regional Commands One and Two.
- KRG leaders emphasized that the historic milestone permanently ends partisan force divisions.
In a landmark development for regional security and institutional reform, the Kurdistan Region formally inaugurated the unified command structure of the Peshmerga forces, bringing years of parallel administrative divisions to a close.
Key Speeches and Structural Framework
- Official Attendance: The ceremony was held under the auspices of Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, Peshmerga Minister Shorsh Ismail, and top federal and international delegates.
- Unified Military Architecture: Minister Shorsh Ismail confirmed the successful culmination of administrative integration, organizing forces into 11 divisions beneath Regional Commands One and Two to operate strictly under the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs. He said, "From now on, the Peshmerga forces will have a single military command and a single decision."
- Presidential and Ministerial Emphasis: President Nechirvan Barzani highlighted the move as a major national milestone, ensuring the Peshmerga serve as a professional force for all of Kurdistan, while Prime Minister Masrour Barzani called for deeper operational coordination with the Iraqi army.
The completion of the restructuring fulfills a core objective under joint reform understandings with international coalition partners, cementing a unified defense framework.
FYI
The formal integration merges the historically separate forces of Unit 70 and Unit 80 directly into the official command chain of the KRG Ministry of Peshmerga.
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