Kurdistan Region Marks Completion of Peshmerga Unification Process

Kurdistan 12:54 PM - 2026-09-21

Kurdistan Region Announces Completion of Peshmerga Unification Process.

A ceremony was held on Monday, 21 September 2026, to announce the completion of the reorganisation and unification of the Peshmerga forces.

The ceremony was attended by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Vice Presidents Sheikh Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa and Mustafa Sayyid Qadir, Minister of Peshmerga Affairs Shorsh Ismail, and General Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, Director of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, alongside senior government officials, security and military commanders, representatives of the Global Coalition, ambassadors and consuls.

The ceremony opened with a minute’s silence in honour of the martyrs of Iraq and Kurdistan.

Peshmerga Affairs Minister Shorsh Ismail then delivered a speech announcing the completion of the unification process, describing it as the outcome of a national effort and a strategic plan that had been pursued for years.

“The process of unifying the Peshmerga has been completed today. I congratulate the people and the Peshmerga on this achievement and this organisational step,” Ismail said. He added that the process was the result of “a national will and a strategic plan—both academic and practical—that began years ago”.

Ismail said the achievement had brought the Peshmerga forces together and enabled reforms within the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs. He described the accomplishment as one belonging to the entire nation.

He also said the unified Peshmerga forces would contribute not only to protecting the Kurdistan Region but also to the security and stability of Iraq as a whole, describing the unification as a “major historic achievement” that had overcome numerous obstacles.

The minister thanked all those who had contributed to and supported the process, including Bafel Jalal Talabani, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). He also expressed gratitude for the support and assistance provided by Coalition forces led by the United States, Germany and France, and called for continued support for the unified Peshmerga forces and Iraq’s stability.

In his remarks, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani described the occasion as a historic day for the Kurdistan Region and the Peshmerga forces, saying that the long-running process had resulted in their unification.

Barzani said the KRG had made completing the unification of the Peshmerga a priority within its government programme. He praised the efforts of Nechirvan Barzani and Qubad Talabani, whom he said had played a major role in finalising the process.

He stressed that the Peshmerga forces are part of Iraq’s defence system and underlined the importance of coordination between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi Army. He also called for Peshmerga personnel to enjoy the same rights as members of the Iraqi Army.

Barzani said the Peshmerga defend peaceful coexistence in the Kurdistan Region and thanked Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi for his continued support for the Region.

For his part, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said the Peshmerga forces would serve both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, stressing that following the unification process, no Peshmerga forces would remain outside the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs’ structure.

Barzani said the project to unify the Peshmerga dated back to 2016 and that the process would ensure the integration of all Peshmerga forces into the ministry and the wider Iraqi national defence system.

He stressed, however, that unification marked a new stage rather than the end of the process, saying further work would continue across various areas. He also emphasised that the Peshmerga must remain separate from political disputes and partisan interests and serve as a unified force for Kurdistan.

Barzani said the Peshmerga represented all of Kurdistan and its diverse communities without distinction, adding that both the Peshmerga and Iraqi Army should serve the interests of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Lieutenant General Najat Ali Saleh was announced as Commander of Zone 1, while Lieutenant General Omar Saleh Hassan was appointed Commander of Zone 2.


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