Kurdistan Region and US Reaffirm Commitment to Peshmerga Reform and Unification

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - As the Kurdistan Region advances a critical phase of military restructuring, senior officials and a US diplomatic and military delegation convened in Erbil to review progress in the reform and unification of the Peshmerga forces, underscoring their shared commitment to institutional transformation.

On Wednesday, the Kurdistan Region Presidency announced in a statement that another round of joint meetings was held between relevant Kurdistan Region institutions and a US diplomatic and military delegation to discuss the Peshmerga reform and unification process.

According to the statement, the discussions were held in the presence of Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa, Deputy President of the Kurdistan Region, and Wendy Green, US Consul General in the Kurdistan Region.

The talks emphasized the importance of ensuring the success of the Peshmerga reform process and reviewed the latest steps taken within the framework of unification.

During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed joint measures aimed at accelerating the process and overcoming existing obstacles. Views were also exchanged on expanding coordination and cooperation between the two sides.

The meeting follows a significant reform step taken in November 2025, when the Kurdistan Region officially reactivated Unit 80 under a new structure titled “Area Command 1,” placing the force under the authority of the Ministry of Peshmerga as part of the ninth cabinet’s reform and unification plan.

A senior source within the Ministry of Peshmerga previously confirmed that the Kurdistan Region Presidency issued a decree to return Unit 80 under the ministry’s authority. The command consists of six unified Peshmerga divisions, with implementation scheduled to begin shortly after the decree.

A high-level coordination meeting was also held with a US military delegation to discuss logistical support and synchronization mechanisms within the reform framework.

The reactivation of Unit 80 marked a milestone in the Kurdistan Regional Government’s efforts to reorganize the Peshmerga and bring all military units under a single institutional command. The initiative is part of a broader reform plan led by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to standardize forces, unify command structures, and end long-standing administrative divisions.

Since 2023, the unification process has undergone major restructuring, consolidating multiple brigades into fully organized divisions to enhance operational efficiency.

Maj. Gen. Osman Mohammed, Director of Media and National Awareness, previously stated that each completed division would be paired with a specialized advisory team and receive advanced training in leadership, intelligence systems, and organizational procedures. He described Units 70 and 80 as “pivotal” to enabling the consolidation and reorganization efforts.

Military expert Wafa Mohammed characterized the reform as a strategic national step aimed at strengthening the Kurdistan Region’s stability and defense posture.

With coordination meetings continuing, officials signal that the Peshmerga reform process is moving forward, even as full structural unity remains a complex and ongoing undertaking.