Nechirvan Barzani says Peshmerga unification ‘not progressing as required’

ZAKHO — Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said Thursday that the unification of Peshmerga forces had not advanced as needed, describing the delay as damaging to the region’s reputation and calling the issue a “vital necessity.”

Speaking at a graduation ceremony for the 30th training course at the Second Military College in Zakho, Barzani said international coalition partners continued to offer support and planning “expecting us to demonstrate a genuine and strong political will. Unfortunately, this has not happened so far, and this delay has harmed the reputation of the Kurdistan Region.”

“The process of unifying the Peshmerga forces is not progressing as required, and the necessary advances have not yet been achieved,” he said, adding that the current situation was “not acceptable.” He said the Kurdistan Region Presidency and government would continue efforts to complete the process in coordination with coalition partners.

Barzani also called on Baghdad to fulfill its constitutional obligations toward the Peshmerga. “Iraq must fulfill its constitutional and legal obligations toward the Peshmerga by providing support, weapons and equipment,” he said. “The Peshmerga are not a threat; they are defenders of the homeland.”

Peshmerga forces have long been divided along political lines, primarily between Unit 70, affiliated with the PUK, and Unit 80, aligned with the KDP. Efforts backed by the U.S.-led coalition aim to reorganize the forces under a unified command within the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs. In February 2026, the ministry said it was moving forward with plans to formally announce Area Commands 1 and 2 as replacements for the two units, with more than 44,000 fighters already reorganized into 15 joint brigades under coalition supervision. Progress has remained slow despite those steps.