Senior Kurdistan Region officials on Wednesday met with a United States diplomatic and military delegation in Erbil to review progress in the ongoing reform and unification of the Peshmerga forces, reaffirming their shared commitment to institutional restructuring.

In a statement, the Kurdistan Region Presidency said the talks focused on advancing the reform framework and accelerating efforts to consolidate command structures within the Peshmerga. The meeting was attended by Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa, Deputy President of the Kurdistan Region, and Wendy Green, the US Consul General to the Kurdistan Region.

Both sides reviewed recent developments in the reform process and stressed the importance of overcoming administrative and logistical challenges to ensure its success. Discussions also covered expanding coordination and cooperation as the restructuring advances.

The reform initiative is part of a broader strategy led by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani aimed at professionalizing and unifying the Peshmerga under the authority of the Ministry of Peshmerga. Historically, Peshmerga forces were divided along partisan lines, primarily between units affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

Since 2023, the Kurdistan Regional Government has intensified efforts to integrate these forces into a centralized command structure to enhance operational efficiency and accountability.

A significant milestone was reached in November 2025 with the reactivation of Unit 80 under a new structure known as “Area Command 1,” formally placing it under the Ministry of Peshmerga. Officials said the command includes six unified divisions, with implementation beginning shortly after a presidential decree returned the unit to ministerial authority.

Previously, Unit 70 and Unit 80 were regarded as the main pillars of partisan-aligned forces. Officials have described their restructuring as pivotal to ending long-standing administrative divisions within the military establishment.

Maj. Gen. Osman Mohammed, Director of Media and National Awareness at the Ministry of Peshmerga, said each completed division will be supported by specialized advisory teams and receive advanced training in leadership, intelligence systems, and organizational management. Coordination meetings with US military representatives have also addressed logistical support and synchronization mechanisms to align the reforms with international standards.