Iraqi PM Sudani welcomes unification of Peshmerga forces
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih Sudani has welcomed the merger of Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan Region under the Ministry of Peshmerga. Sudani said the move would strengthen national security and coordination among the armed forces.
RastinewsIraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih Sudani issued a statement on the unification of Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan Region under a single command.
Sudani said he welcomed the restructuring and unification of the Peshmerga forces. He stressed the importance of institutionalizing security and military forces within the framework of the constitution and the law.
A contribution to "unifying the defense decision"
Sudani said coordination among the different components of the Iraqi Armed Forces needed to be strengthened, and that the step taken within the Peshmerga would bolster national security. According to Sudani, the move would also contribute to "unifying the defense decision."
Baghdad's position on the Peshmerga
The government in Baghdad has previously emphasized that the Peshmerga forms an integral part of Iraq's security and defense system.
Iraqi Armed Forces spokesman Sabah Numan said in June that the Peshmerga forces would receive a share of the plans to modernize and arm Iraq's air defense system.
Peshmerga unification completed
As part of a reform process that has been underway for years in the Kurdistan Region, the 80th and 70th Brigades, affiliated respectively with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), were placed under the direct command of the Ministry of Peshmerga. The unification process was announced complete with the activation of the 1st and 2nd Regional Commands.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said the Peshmerga now belonged to the entire region rather than to any single party. Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said the next phase would focus on developing the Peshmerga's military capacity and training standards.