Peshmerga present as honor guards to Iraqi PM during reception ceremony

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A Peshmerga unit on Wednesday participated as Iraqi honor guards during the reception ceremony for the Australian Prime Minister in Baghdad.

The event, organized by Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi, is a first in Iraq since the fall of the former regime in 2003.

According to the Constitution, the Peshmerga are part of the security apparatus of Iraq but have often criticized Baghdad for neglecting and marginalizing them.

Kurdistan Region officials have praised the PM as a “friend” of the Kurds, voiced their support for him, and said he is different from his predecessors as the leader of the country.

The Kurdish forces, as members of the international anti-Islamic State (IS) coalition have previously affirmed, have been a vital entity in the fight against the terrorist group.

Since 2014, over 1,700 Peshmerga have fallen while fighting the militant group and more than 10,000 were wounded, according to the Peshmerga Ministry.

The Australian premier arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday. He was welcomed by a ceremonial display in which both the Iraqi and Australian national anthems were played.

During the ceremony, Abdul-Mahdi and his Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison, walked a red carpet, passing honor guards who represent the various military bodies of the country, including the Kurdish Peshmerga.

The Hashd al-Shaabi, or the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also participated as honor guards. Under Iraqi law, the PMF is an official institution subordinate to the PM, who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

“Iraq is a diverse country religiously, ethnically, and intellectually,” Abdul Mahdi said during a joint press conference with Morrison in Baghdad. “This diversity is a source of strength.”

He added that “the sacrifices of Iraqis in the war on Da’esh [IS] were great and costly, and the people must harvest the fruits of patience and sacrifices in coexistence, stability, and reconstruction.”

The Australian Prime Minister asserted his country was “a friend” of Iraq which has always been “supportive of its efforts to fight terrorism.” He added Australia would continue to support Iraq in all areas.

Baghdad has previously said the reconstruction of liberated areas would require roughly 80 to 100 billion USD.

Editing by Nadia Riva