ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A significant step toward unifying the Peshmerga forces was taken on Thursday as Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani signed a decree placing the Peshmerga forces, that were previously under the command of the ruling political parties, under the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs.
The decree outlines the administrative, legal, and financial authorities of corps and division commands operating under the ministry. The move is intended to advance the reunification and reorganization of the Peshmerga in accordance with Reform Law No. 2 of 2020.
The milestone marks a substantial step toward consolidating all Peshmerga units under a unified command structure. Central to the effort is the integration of Unit 70 and Unit 80 - forces affiliated with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), respectively - into a single chain of command. Together, the two units comprise the majority of the Peshmerga forces, totaling more than 100,000 personnel.
Units 70 and 80 will now operate under Regional Command 1 and Regional Command 2.
“Following the signing of the authorities of the Regional Commands by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and the prime minister, a major step has now been taken toward unifying the Peshmerga,” Brig. Gen. Bakhtyar Mohammed, secretary-general of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, told Rudaw.