Historic Unification of Peshmerga Forces Brings End to Decades of Kurdish Division in Iraq

The Kurdistan region of Iraq announced what it called a historic unification of Peshmerga forces under the authority of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, effectively ending decades of division between armed units loyal to the territory's two rival ruling parties.

The Peshmerga, historically known as Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq who act as the national armed force of the Kurdish people, had long maintained separate command chains, logistical networks, and political allegiances split between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Despite past integration efforts and continuous pressure from the Kurdish public and the United States, independent party lines had persisted until the formal announcement.

A formal ceremony held in Erbil marked the consolidation of all forces under the Peshmerga ministry. The event was attended by Nechirvan Barzani, President of Iraqi Kurdistan and commander-in-chief of the Peshmerga, and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, alongside senior Peshmerga commanders, US-led international coalition advisers, and representatives from the Iraqi federal government.

President Nechirvan Barzani emphasized that the reform successfully establishes a professional national institution detached from partisan influence, ensuring that no armed faction remains outside the ministry's control. He paid tribute to fallen Kurdish fighters who stood together through difficult times and thanked the United States and partner nations for supporting regional stability and anti-ISIS operations.

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani echoed these sentiments, describing the unification as a vital first step in a broader process to enhance military capabilities, integrate advanced weaponry, and strengthen air defenses. He emphasized that the unified Peshmerga operates as a constitutional component of Iraq's national defense system.

The structural reform fulfills a core strategic demand from Washington, which has supplied the Peshmerga with extensive financial stipends, weaponry, training, and air support through the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs. US officials had long warned that fractured command structures compromised operational efficiency against ISIS and raised accountability concerns.

This major development in Iraqi Kurdistan runs parallel to ongoing efforts by the government of Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi in Baghdad to assert state control over armed groups, including Iran-backed militias. While the Kurdish integration successfully merges long-standing political factions into a constitutionally recognized ministry, Baghdad faces a more complex challenge in disarming fragmented militias with independent financing and regional alliances.