Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Commander-in-Chief of the Peshmerga forces, attended the 30th graduation ceremony of the Second Military College in Zakho and reiterated that the unification of the Peshmerga forces must be achieved.

“When ISIS, one of the world’s largest terrorist organizations, launched its attacks on Iraq and Kurdistan, it was the Peshmerga forces, under the leadership of President Masoud Barzani, that stood against ISIS on the frontlines and sacrificed their lives to protect Kurdistan from terrorism,” President Nechirvan Barzani said in his speech congratulating the graduates and their families.

“As long as the Kurds and Kurdistan remain, the Peshmerga will continue to be a source of inspiration for the people of Kurdistan. It will remain a guardian and a symbol of defense and resilience for our nation.

“I express the Kurdistan Region’s gratitude for the support of the U.S.-led coalition forces in the fight against ISIS,” he added.

However, he criticized the slow process in unifying the Kurdish Peshmerga forces.Peshmerga soldiers are split between political factions, with 70 units under the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and 80 units under the Kurdistan Democratic Party. The goal is to bring all of these units under the umbrella of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs (MoPA) by September 2026. 

“The people of Kurdistan have long awaited the unification of the Peshmerga forces. Our allies in the international coalition continue to provide support, planning, and assistance while expecting us to demonstrate the necessary political will. Unfortunately, this has not happened to the required extent, which has negatively affected the reputation of the Kurdistan Region,” President Nechirvan Barzani said.

“Most importantly, the dedicated and capable graduates we celebrate today deserve to serve within a unified national force. The current situation is not acceptable and cannot continue.

“I reiterate that the unification of the Peshmerga forces is a national necessity for the Kurdistan Region and must be achieved. We, in the Kurdistan Region Presidency and Kurdistan Regional Government, will continue with our responsibilities and exert every effort to ensure the success of this process. To achieve this, we will continue to coordinate with our partners in the international coalition,” he added.

Read More: Dutch Colonel Highlights Peshmerga Reform Challenges and Opportunities

The Netherlands, Italy, France, Germany, the UK, and the United States are part of the Multinational Advisory Group, which supports the Peshmerga unification process.

According to the U.S. Department of War budget request, presented in April 2026, by 2027, the MoPA force structure will include two corps-equivalent area commands acting as the operational echelons between the MoPA headquarters and their assigned divisions. The MoPA will have 11 total divisions, with six under Area Command 1 and five under Area Command 2. Each division directs operations of four regional guard brigades. Additionally, the MoPA plans ultimately to have three training centers, a staff training college, two support force commands, and multiple logistics units.

President Nechirvan Barzani added that the Peshmerga are an integral part of Iraq’s defense system and underlined the cooperation between Peshmerga and Iraqi army forces.

“It is equally important to emphasize the significance of cooperation between the Peshmerga and Iraqi army forces in combating terrorism. Joint efforts are essential to preserving security and stability, particularly in the areas covered by Article 140, as ISIS continues to pose a serious threat to Iraq and the wider region,” he said.

“The presence of this military academy in Zakho, affiliated with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, reflects this reality. Iraq is constitutionally and legally obligated to fulfill its responsibilities toward the Peshmerga by providing the necessary support, assistance, weapons, and ammunition.

“The Peshmerga are not a threat; rather, they are the protectors of the country. They have clearly demonstrated this in the war for the liberation of Iraq, in safeguarding the security of Baghdad, and in the war against ISIS.”