Peshmerga successes attract international delegates to Kurdistan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – A top Peshmerga official stated on Monday that the successes of the Peshmerga forces have attracted international delegations visiting the Kurdistan Region.

On Monday, in a live interview broadcast on Kurdistan24 TV, Secretary-General of Peshmerga Ministry, Jabar Yawar stated that foreign delegates’ visit to the Kurdistan Region--especially Defense Ministers—are due to ongoing commitments in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) and increased coordination with Peshmerga.

"Peshmerga are the only force that fought and stopped Daesh's [IS] advances since the beginning of IS' emergence in Iraq," Yawar said.

He noted that several of the main reasons the Defense Ministers accompanied international delegations visiting Erbil. "They [Defense Ministers] see Peshmerga successes.” Yawar explained two additional reasons for their visits to the Kurdistan Region, "First, they want to observe and watch the Peshmerga...closely on the front lines. Second, they want to see what are the Peshmerga needs in order to successfully combat Daesh."

He mentioned that thirteen of the sixty countries involved in the U.S.-led coalition have a presence in the Kurdistan Region, and are providing military training and aid to Peshmerga forces.

"The coalition warplanes provide aerial support to the Peshmerga. Also, the coalition has been providing weapons and ammunition to the Kurdistan Region. We have told them that the amount sent is not sufficient for such a wide-scale war; Peshmerga have over 1,000 km (622 miles) border with Daesh." He continued, "Beside the border, Daesh has gained weapons and ammunition from three Iraqi military divisions (60,000 soldiers) in the past. We have asked the U.S.-led coalition to provide more weapons, especially heavy ones.”

Yawar also mentioned that so far the coalition sends arms to the Kurdistan Region through Baghdad. “Only two planes carried weapons and ammunition directly flew to Erbil. We are expecting two Peshmerga brigades to be directly armed by the coalition,” he added.

Additionally, Yawar stated that there are military officers from Baghdad in the Kurdistan Region who are members of the Joint Coordination Center in Erbil. Yawar called for the direct armament of Peshmerga as these Iraqi officers can supervise the delivered weapons and ammunition, and then report to the federal government.

Yawar also acknowledged that the Iraqi Defense Ministry bought weapons from abroad, but Peshmerga have no share in this purchase. “We have asked the Ministry to provide a share of it to the Peshmerga forces, but so far have not received anything from Baghdad…Peshmerga is a constitutional force, and the Constitution of Iraq clearly mentions it,” Yawar added.

“Peshmerga, like any other Iraqi security forces protect part of the country but unfortunately have not received any weapons from Baghdad,” he concluded.