Al-Halbousi’s apparent remarks on Peshmerga armament spark criticism from Kurdish officials

BAGHDAD — Mohammed Al-Halbousi, leader of Iraq’s Taqaddum Party, sparked controversy Sunday with a statement opposing the arming of “local forces” with heavy artillery. Though Al-Halbousi did not name any specific group, Kurdish officials interpreted the remarks as a reference to the Peshmerga forces and quickly criticized him.

“We categorically reject the arming of local forces, whose constitutional duty is limited to maintaining internal security within their areas of responsibility, with advanced heavy artillery,” Al-Halbousi posted on X, formerly Twitter. He warned that such actions “could undermine national social security in general, particularly in Nineveh and Kirkuk,” and that the weapons might be used in “ethnic or partisan conflicts.” He emphasized that “this type of weaponry should be exclusively in the hands of the Iraqi army, whose capabilities and resources we consistently advocate to strengthen.”

Although Al-Halbousi did not directly mention the Peshmerga, his reference to security threats in Nineveh and Kirkuk was seen as an allusion to the Kurdistan Region’s military force. Both governorates contain disputed territories, where the question of whether they should be incorporated into the Kurdistan Region remains unresolved.

On Aug. 6, the Peshmerga Ministry received a shipment of heavy weapons from the United States and coalition forces, including howitzers. At the delivery ceremony, Peshmerga Minister Shoresh Ismail called it a “historic day” and thanked Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani for his support in delivering the weapons.

Responding to Al-Halbousi’s comments, Hoshyar Zebari, a senior official of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and former Iraqi foreign minister, took to X on Sept. 15, calling Al-Halbousi a “cheap populist.” Zebari wrote, “The stance of Mohammed Al-Halbousi, the former Speaker of Parliament who has been legally barred from a new term, regarding the Peshmerga forces receiving a small portion of defensive weapons from the international coalition reflects a cheap populist maneuver.” He added, “Otherwise, why wouldn’t these weapons be used solely against Iraq’s enemies?”

Anwar Al-Alwani, a leader within Al-Halbousi’s Taqaddum Party, defended the party’s position, stating in an interview with Al-Rabiaa TV: “The Taqaddum Party has a clear stance regarding arming the Peshmerga, and there is a risk that this artillery could be used in internal conflicts.” He called on Prime Minister Al-Sudani to clarify his position on arming the Peshmerga, emphasizing that only the Iraqi army should control such weaponry.

The Peshmerga, which are recognized under Iraq’s constitution as the regional guard force of the Kurdistan Region, operate under the authority of the Kurdistan Regional Government. Article 121 of the Iraqi Constitution grants the KRG the right to maintain internal security forces, including the Peshmerga, to manage local security. The Peshmerga are not formally integrated into the Iraqi army but are a crucial part of Iraq’s broader defense framework.

Khalida Khalil, spokesperson for the Barzani Headquarters, criticized Al-Halbousi’s comments, saying, “The Peshmerga forces are constitutional and not sectarian, so their armament should not be opposed.” She added, “They have not fought to encroach on the rights of other groups, nor have they ever called for war. They are regular forces that defend the rights of their people and all components without discrimination.” Khalil also emphasized that the Peshmerga led the fight against ISIS and “sacrificed martyrs and wounded for the sake of the land and human dignity.”

964media reached out to two senior officials from the Ministry of Peshmerga but has not yet received a response.

Despite the recent tension, Al-Halbousi’s Taqaddum Party continues to maintain strong relations with both the KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. In 2022, Taqaddum, the KDP, and the Sadrist movement aligned during Iraq’s first parliamentary session, supporting each other’s candidates for key leadership roles.

Founded in 2019, the Taqaddum Party won 37 seats in the 2021 parliamentary elections.