Sirwan Barzani: Peshmerga Heroism Against ISIS Must Be Etched into History
Sirwan Barzani calls for historic recognition of Kurdish forces' 2014 victory over ISIS near Erbil. Warns of persistent terror threat, urges stronger Peshmerga-Iraqi army coordination to close security gaps.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Sirwan Barzani, head of the Gwer-Makhmour frontline, has called for the valor and sacrifices of the Peshmerga forces in the battle against ISIS to be formally recorded in history, as the Kurdistan Region marks the 11th anniversary of ISIS’s assault on the Gwer-Makhmour axis.
Speaking to Kurdistan24, on Thursday, Barzani reflected on the events of 2014, when ISIS launched a major offensive towards Erbil after capturing Mosul and other parts of Iraq. He underscored the pivotal role of the Peshmerga in repelling the attack and preventing the fall of the Kurdistan Region’s capital.
“ISIS terrorists were advancing toward Erbil through Gwer, just 35 kilometers from the city,” Barzani recalled. “President Barzani ordered a defense, and Peshmerga forces were swiftly deployed across multiple fronts. Near Erbil, the Peshmerga confronted and, for the first time in Iraq and Syria, broke ISIS on the battlefield.”
He emphasized the magnitude of the threat, stating, “At the time of the assault on Erbil, ISIS had hundreds of thousands of fighters, heavy weapons, Humvees, and hundreds of mounted vehicles—abandoned by the Iraqi army. This created a real fear across the entire region. They captured other areas without a fight, but near Erbil, they were defeated for the first time by our forces, and our Peshmerga proved to the world they were stronger than the terrorists.”
Barzani stressed that it was the Peshmerga who first stopped ISIS, even before the formation of the international coalition. “Without heavy weaponry, we faced a force that had terrified the world. True, the coalition later played a vital role, but the Peshmerga had already dealt ISIS a heavy blow before their arrival.”
He argued that this sacrifice and heroism deserve to be preserved in historical records, “The Peshmerga’s bravery and sacrifice in the fight against ISIS must be written into history.”
Barzani also warned that the threat of ISIS remains far from over. “The so-called ‘jihadi’ ideology of ISIS fighters is highly dangerous—like a bomb waiting to detonate, though no one knows when,” he said. “They often wait for an opportunity to strike again. They exploit the weakness of the Iraqi government and even the tension in Erbil-Baghdad relations.”
He further stated, “The terrorists are seeking another opportunity. They remain committed to their ideology. Militarily they may be weakened, but their mindset remains. That’s why we must stay in a constant state of readiness, coordinating with the Iraqi army and coalition partners to ensure ISIS cannot rise again.”
Commander Barzani highlighted a critical issue in the region’s defense strategy: “There is a dangerous security gap between the Peshmerga and Iraqi army lines, which ISIS continues to exploit. Approximately 70% of the security vacuum in the Gwer-Makhmour axis remains unfilled, creating a persistent vulnerability.”
He called for urgent action: “We need to increase the number of joint brigades to block infiltration routes and deny ISIS any chance to regroup in the area.”
