US to arm two more Peshmerga brigades: Peshmerga Official

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The United States informed the Peshmerga Ministry they would arm two more Peshmerga brigades in 2017, said a Kurdish Peshmerga official on Saturday.

Commander Jamal Iminiki, chief of staff of Peshmerga forces, revealed to Kurdistan24 the US would provide full armament and military equipment to two more Peshmerga units next year.

Iminiki added the decision came after the US armed the first and second brigades of the Peshmerga Ministry in 2016.

In April, Washington announced plans to arm some Iraqi army brigades along with two groups of Peshmerga soldiers after the US Congress approved an allocation of $1.6 billion.

The purpose of the armament was to prepare Peshmerga soldiers before the upcoming operation to push the Islamic State (IS) out of Mosul in northern Iraq.

“The armament of the first and second brigades of Peshmerga forces will end by 2016,” Iminiki stated.

“We have been informed by the US that in 2017, another two Peshmerga brigades will be armed in the same way as the first and second,” he continued.

The Peshmerga official mentioned the two new brigades would receive proper military training, military equipment, and logistical support.

The Kurdistan Region shares over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of its border with IS in northern Iraq.

Peshmerga is considered one of the most efficient ground troops in defeating the jihadist group and have successfully liberated large swaths of territory.

According to the latest data provided by the Peshmerga Ministry, since the emergence of IS in June 2014, 1,540 Peshmerga soldiers have been martyred, and 9,067 have been wounded.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany