Hungary pledges continued support for Peshmerga training, arms, medical treatment

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – According to two senior Peshmerga commanders, Hungarian officials have agreed to the terms of a request made by the Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga Ministry that Hungary would continue its military support for Kurdish fighters, including medical treatment for those injured in battle.

A delegation from the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga Ministry on Tuesday met with Hungarian military officials in Budapest, including the Deputy Defense Minister.

"During the meeting, we asked Hungary to continue their military training to Peshmerga forces," said Peshmerga Commander Sirwan Barzani to Kurdistan 24 in Budapest.

"They [Hungary] have given the Peshmerga weapons and ammunition in the fight against Da’esh [IS] and we have requested that they keep doing so... and they said that they will."

Hungary is one of the members of the US-led coalition in the campaign against the Islamic State (IS) that has provided military support to the Kurdistan Region over the past few years. Hungary's military currently has over 165 advisers in the Kurdistan Region, according to Barzani, who is in charge of the Peshmerga's Gwer-Makhmour unit.

"It’s true that Da’esh is defeated and no longer control cities, but their insurgent attacks are still occurring."

Hungarian military officials commended the role of the Peshmerga in defeating the jihadist group, he said.

He also noted that Hungary has been one of the coalition members that took injured Peshmerga members to Budapest to provide necessary medical treatment that could not have been provided in the Kurdistan Region.

The commander added, "In the meeting, we also brought up the idea that Hungary can send some of their military surgical doctors or specialists to treat wounded Peshmerga in the military hospital that Germany has created in Erbil."

Sheikh Jafaar Sheikh Mustafa, another senior Peshmerga Commander who was among the Kurdish delegates present, also told Kurdistan 24 that the role Peshmerga have played in defeating IS was a primary reason that Hungary has promised the continuation in military support.

About 2,000 Peshmerga were killed while fighting the extremist group and 12,000 more were wounded, according to the Peshmerga Ministry.

Despite Iraq declaring a final victory against the IS in December, IS continues to launch sporadic attacks, including bombings, assassinations, and kidnappings in previously liberated areas.

Editing by John J. Catherine

(Additional reporting by Barzan Hassan)