Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani described the formal unification of the Peshmerga forces as a “historic day” for Kurdistan and said the completion of the process marks only the beginning of a broader effort to build a stronger, modern and professional force.

Speaking at a ceremony held Monday at the Kurdistan Region Presidency in Erbil, attended by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and senior Iraqi and Kurdish officials, Barzani said the unification had been a central commitment of his government since the beginning of the Ninth Cabinet.

Barzani said that after four years of meetings, reforms and coordination with the Kurdistan Region Presidency, the United States and Coalition partners, the process of reorganizing and unifying the Peshmerga had been completed under the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs.

“Today is a historic day for Kurdistan and the Peshmerga,” Barzani said, adding that the achievement was also personally significant because unifying the Peshmerga had been included in his government’s agenda from the outset.
In a post on X following the ceremony, Barzani said the Peshmerga was “more than a military force,” describing it as a symbol of the struggle, sacrifice and identity of the people of Kurdistan.

He stressed, however, that unification should be regarded as the first step of a longer process. The next phase, he said, must focus on strengthening military capabilities, providing advanced weapons and air-defense systems, developing personnel and improving training and military awareness in accordance with international standards.

The prime minister also called for the Peshmerga to operate as a unified national force under the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs and said political or party affiliation should not determine the force's military allegiance or chain of command.

Barzani further emphasized the Peshmerga's role within Iraq's constitutional defense system and called for stronger security and military cooperation between the Peshmerga and Iraqi Army. He also urged the federal government to ensure equal salaries and financial entitlements for Peshmerga personnel in accordance with their constitutional status.

The ceremony marked the formal conclusion of a lengthy restructuring process involving the forces historically organized under the 70 and 80 formations. According to the Kurdistan Region government, the unified force is now being organized within a single military structure covering operations, training, command and control and other administrative functions.

The Peshmerga unification has been a longstanding issue in the Kurdistan Region, where military formations have historically been associated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. The process has also been a major element of military reform supported by the United States and the international coalition.

Barzani concluded his remarks by paying tribute to Peshmerga martyrs and their families, as well as wounded, disabled and retired Peshmerga personnel, and congratulated the people of Kurdistan on what he called a historic achievement.