Peshmerga has many friends in US Congress

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – On Sunday, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representative to the United States (US) Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman called the US’s support for Peshmerga an “international recognition” of their fight against Islamic State (IS).

In an interview with K24 in Washington, Abdul Rahman praised Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s remarks in Congress, emphasizing the need for further military equipment and direct assistance for Peshmerga.

Abdul Rahman believes that Ros-Lehtinen’s comments prove that Peshmerga are not alone in combatting IS. "It is important that our Peshmerga who sacrifice their lives...be [made] aware that they have many friends in the US Congress," she said.

Pointing to the recent KRG reform plans, Abdul Rahman added that they have asked the US and several European countries for their assistance in implementing these future changes.

“The crisis is very serious in Kurdistan Region. We need immediate assistance to ensure that the Peshmerga have what they need, including weapons and ammunition," she stressed.

Additionally, Abdul Rahman said that KRG also requires additional aid for refugees and IDPs residing in the Region.

"We need help so we can continue to look after nearly two million refugees and Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs)," she added.

Addressing the crucial role of Peshmerga, Abdul Rahman said that Kurds all around the world are proud that they have been a central factor in fighting IS.

The war against IS, a global decline in oil prices, and hosting nearly two million refugees and IDPs are the main factors behind the financial crisis in Kurdistan Region.

On Friday, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Representative to Florida’s 27 District delivered supportive remarks to Kurds praising Peshmerga as a stable, effective fighting force in Iraq and Syria.

Reporting by Gulala Khaled

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany and Benjamin Kweskin