The anti-ISIS coalition remains committed to advising the peshmerga, the Pentagon’s quarterly inspector general report to the U.S. Congress said on October 29.
Read More: Peshmerga Take Significant Steps for Reform: Pentagon
A renewed non-binding memorandum of understanding signed by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs (MoPA) in 2022 committed to providing support to the peshmerga, but only if key reforms continue.
Peshmerga soldiers are split between political factions, with 70 units under the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and 80 units under the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). The goal of the peshmerga reform project is to unite these units under the MoPA by 2026.
The MoPA reform Director received the #Netherland Military Advisor & the #French Military Advisor in the #Kurdistan Region. In a joint meeting, the Reform Director talked about the progress of the #MoPA reform process and highlighted the next steps. pic.twitter.com/kESGHQbeH7
— Ministry of Peshmerga (@KRG_MOPE) November 6, 2024
The report mentions that coalition advisors are working with the MoPA to implement a four-year reform plan established between the U.S. Department of Defense and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
The United States, the UK, Italy, Germany, France, and the Netherlands are part of the multi-national advisory group that supports the peshmerga reform process.
Read More: German Support for Peshmerga and Regional Security
“The reform plan seeks to unify partisan peshmerga forces under the MoPA, which is responsible for maintaining the territorial integrity of the Kurdistan Region and coordinating with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense in Baghdad,” the report said.
The report added that, in line with the reform plan, thousands of peshmerga personnel have transferred from these politically affiliated forces to the MoPA, where they have been organized into units known as Regional Guard Brigades (RGB) assigned to one of four MoPA divisions.
In the presence of the #MoPA Chief of Staff, the Secretary General and the Commander of the #Coalition Forces in the #KRI, a meeting on coordination and joint cooperation between the Ministry of #Peshmerga and the international coalition forces in the #Kurdistan Region was held. pic.twitter.com/ljLPgUheBb
— Ministry of Peshmerga (@KRG_MOPE) November 5, 2024
“The transfers are ongoing with the aim of establishing 11 divisions that unite all units under the MoPA’s command by September 2026. CJTF-OIR (the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition) reported that the 1st and 2nd Divisions have been operational since March. The 3rd and 4th Divisions experienced some delays due to disagreements between the 80s Unit and the MoPA.”
However, the report said that the 3rd Division is receiving funding to improve headquarters infrastructure and is scheduled to receive equipment and weapons from the MoPA. The 4th Division began receiving coalition advising in mid-July.
Citing coalition sources, the report said that MoPA has completed a plan to unify the 70s and 80s forces under its control. The plan will expand the number of RGBs, which currently stands at 24.
However, the coalition said that at least four brigades and likely more remain outside of the MoPA and under the command of the partisan 70s and 80s units.
“Pending KRG approval, the intent is to reorganize 138,000 personnel from the 70s and 80s units under MoPA command,” the report said.
The @KRG_MOPE Chief of Staff, in the presence of a number of #MoPA directors, met with the head of the Security Cooperation Office at the @USCGERBIL, cooperation and coordination between them and coalition support for the #Peshmerga forces were discussed. pic.twitter.com/V7MJx4X9Gw
— Ministry of Peshmerga (@KRG_MOPE) November 6, 2024
The coalition reports that the peshmerga reform plan is on track, but key milestones are pending, including the KRG approval for reorganization of the 70s and 80s forces under MoPA authority, and a financial sustainability plan for a 138,000-strong MoPA force, now targeted for completion by September 2025.
Moreover, it said there are delays in implementing financial mechanisms, with a single line of accounting postponed until March 2025, though the retirement plan is ahead of schedule.
The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) also reported that the ongoing rivalry and mistrust between the KDP and PUK continued to undermine efforts to reform the peshmerga under a single unified MoPA command.
The DIA said that in the absence of a stable political environment, the KDP and PUK may seek to retain control of their partisan forces even after transferring them to the MoPA.
Read More: United States to Maintain Partnership with Peshmerga Forces: UCG
During the MERI Forum in Erbil on October 29, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani underlined that the plan is to gradually integrate the various peshmerga forces – which were established under different names – into a unified structure.
“This means we’ll eventually have joint forces, the same peshmerga personnel, and a unified chain of command under the MoPA,” he explained.
He also emphasized that a crucial part of the reform plan is ensuring that decisions affecting the peshmerga are made solely by the MoPA – not by individual political parties or personal interests.
“In my view, we could achieve this integration within four years, although there may be obstacles along the way. Let’s see what challenges arise,” he concluded.
