Colonel Lars Persikowski, the commander of the German Armed Forces in Erbil, told Kurdistan Chronicle in an exclusive interview at the Erbil Air Base that the German army has “a very good partnership with the Kurdish forces and the German Armed Forces truly feel welcome in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

“We feel there’s a close relationship between the Kurdish people and the Germans who are here as part of the coalition forces in Iraq in the fight against ISIS,” Persikowski said.

“It is a very interesting mission. As we support the peshmerga forces to restructure, my staff can contribute all their expertise and experience to create something new and enhance their capabilities.”

Ten years ago, after ISIS attacked the Kurdistan Region in 2014, Germany supplied the peshmerga with weapons like G-36 rifles and MILAN anti-tank guided missiles, as well as armored vehicles and a significant quantity of ammunition. The German Armed Forces also provided training for the peshmerga.

Persikowski said that the focus of the training and support has now shifted. “During the first years of the fight against ISIS, it was critical to train them on the German weapons we provided, but now they know how to handle these systems, and there are other training needs that can enhance the sustainability of the peshmerga forces,” he said.

Germany, together with Italy, Netherlands, the United States, and the UK, supports the peshmerga reform program with advisors in the Kurdistan Region as part of the Multinational Advisory Group.

Training and support

Today, German forces are focused on keeping the systems and supplies that Germany has donated to the peshmerga in operational condition so that the funds from the Enable and Enhance Initiative can continue to be put to good use. “We want to make sure that what we gave to the peshmerga remains in a usable condition for as long as technically possible,” Persikowski noted.

“We focus on four key aspects within the peshmerga reform project. The first is logistics. The second is medical capabilities, including the peshmerga hospital, equipment, and training. Third, we advise on media operations, and fourth, we support the peshmerga in building a non-commissioned officer corps.

“We still conduct training, for example, with mobile medical training teams (MTT) that come into the country from time to time,” he added. In June, one MTT conducted a course in the Kurdistan Region for peshmerga medical trainers, enabling them to train peshmerga troops in tactical casualty care and combat lifesaving. The next course by the German MTT is scheduled for October 2024.

On August 15, the German Armed Forces handed over 400 backpacks with high-quality medical materiels and the first batch of warehouse shelf systems.

Later this year, six forklifts and four lift trucks for material handling will also be handed over to the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs (MoPA).Persikowski emphasized that the goal of this aid is to enhance the capabilities of the peshmerga to store goods, weapons, and ammunition in a proper and secure fashion.

“When we deliver equipment, it is always done in conjunction with a training team that will provide the initial knowledge and handling skills to the peshmerga so that they can operate the systems and equipment,” he said.

Peshmerga reform

A part of the peshmerga troops that fought against ISIS remain split between political factions, with 70 units under the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and 80 units under the Kurdistan Democratic Party. 

The goal of the peshmerga reform project is to unite these units under the command of the MoPA. Due to distrust and political divisions, this has been a difficult process, something Persikowski acknowledged. “This will take some time, but we have made good progress.”

“From my point of view, success in change is always closely linked to the personal commitment of the individuals directly affected by the changes. Therefore, successful change needs to take personalities, cultures, and customs into account,” he said.

However, he also stated that the degree of achievement always depends on the definition of the desired end state. Minister of Peshmerga Affairs Shoresh Ismail Abdulla previously told Kurdistan24 that the forces would be united by September 2026. “If we are talking about Units 70 and 80 being under the command of MoPA, then this is right. I think this is achievable.”

Persikowski also expects that the upcoming Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections in October – which have recently heightened tensions between Kurdish political parties – will not significantly hamper the peshmerga reform process.

Recent events and attacks 

Since the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023, armed groups have also stepped-up attacks on U.S.-led coalition bases in Iraq and Syria, and tensions have soared between Israel and Iran.

“In Iraq we are geographically right in the middle of this conflict. I had just arrived in Erbil in April, when the rockets and drones flew from Iran to Israel, and Israel responded to this attack. Unfortunately, our camp lies directly underneath the direct flight paths between these two countries,” Persikowski said.

Nevertheless, he is confident about the safety of his forces. “On this base we are protected by a very capable air defense system.” Additionally, German soldiers are housed in hardened container modules. “Our shelters are designed to protect us against the impact of a drone, mortar, or rocket.”

Coalition forces have also faced drone attacks in the Kurdistan Region that are assumed to originate from armed militia groups fighting against the coalition’s presence in the region. “This has occurred, and might happen again. It is part of the complexity of the security situation in this area,” he said.

“I hope that we can one day convince the elements that attacked coalition forces that these forces are here to help stabilize the security situation in order to make life safer for the people in this country,” Persikowski said.

ISIS threat

There has also been ongoing dialogue between Iraqi and U.S. government officials to assess the ongoing threat from ISIS and end the mission of the anti-ISIS coalition advisors in Iraq. But so far, Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has postponed any announcement of ending the mission.

Moreover, Persikowski warned that, even though ISIS had been defeated militarily in 2017, its ideology remains alive. “There are still people that cling to this ideology,” he said. “ISIS remains a threat for peace in this region, so from my point of view we need to continue to foster the peshmerga’s capabilities to independently fight against ISIS.”

“Certainly, one day the military presence of the coalition will no longer be required in this region, but the peshmerga reform process is not finished yet. Hopefully, the ongoing dialogue will lead to a consensus that allows for continued advice, training, and support to bring the reform process to a successful end and reestablish peace in this region,” Persikowski said.

Wladimir van Wilgenburg is a seasoned reporter and analyst who specializes in Kurdish affairs, and holds a Master’s degree in Kurdish studies from Exeter University.