Masrour Barzani: Peshmerga Reform Enters New Phase
At a Glance
- KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani says the four-year roadmap for Peshmerga unification has been completed.
- The reform was carried out under the memorandum of understanding between the KRG and the U.S. Department of Defense.
- The next phase will focus on developing human and military capabilities to meet international standards.
- Barzani called for equalizing Peshmerga salaries and financial entitlements with those of the Iraqi Armed Forces.
Caretaker KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani says the completion of Peshmerga unification marks the beginning of a new phase focused on developing a modern and unified military force.
Key Statements and Focus Area
- Unification: Barzani said the four-year roadmap for unifying the Peshmerga forces has been completed under the memorandum of understanding between the Kurdistan Region and the U.S. Department of Defense.
- Military Development: The next phase will focus on human capacity, training, and military capabilities in line with international standards.
- Financial Rights: Barzani called on the federal government to fulfill what he described as its constitutional responsibility to equalize the salaries and full financial entitlements of Peshmerga personnel with their counterparts in the Iraqi Armed Forces.
The unification process has brought the military structure under the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, covering operations, training, command and control, media, and accounting. The reform also aims to prevent the Peshmerga from being used in political disputes and to protect the force from partisan conflicts and interests.
The post-unification phase is expected to include advanced training and rearmament to strengthen the Peshmerga’s operational capabilities.
Barzani said the Peshmerga is constitutionally part of Iraq’s defense system and reiterated readiness for military coordination with the government of Ali Faleh al-Zaidi. Channel8 has reported that significant salary differences remain between Peshmerga personnel and federal soldiers, with differences also affecting promotions and other financial entitlements.
FYI
The Peshmerga reform process has been carried out under a four-year memorandum of understanding between the Kurdistan Region and the U.S. Department of Defense, with September 2026 set as the target for completing the unification process.
The Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs has now announced that the unification and reorganization of all Peshmerga forces under the ministry has been completed.
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