ERBIL () — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Monday congratulated the people of the Kurdistan Region and the Peshmerga forces on the completion of the process to unify their military units under the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs.
In a message posted on X, al-Zaidi described the unification as an important step toward strengthening Iraq’s national security and consolidating institutional work.
“We congratulate the people of the Kurdistan Region and the heroic Peshmerga on the completion of the unification of their formations under the umbrella of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, in a way that contributes to strengthening national security and consolidating institutional work,” al-Zaidi wrote.
He said that bringing security and military forces together within a constitutional and legal framework, while strengthening coordination among Iraq’s armed forces and their formations, would contribute to consolidating national security and ensuring unity in defense decision-making.
Al-Zaidi's remarks came as the Kurdistan Region formally announced the completion of the Peshmerga unification process during a ceremony attended by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and Minister of Peshmerga Affairs Shoresh Ismail.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Kurdistan Region President described the achievement as the result of years of efforts toward a goal long sought by the people of Kurdistan.
“This process is not merely a change in structure and organization, nor is it simply the transfer of units from one formation to another,” he said. “It is a major national step in the journey of building the institutions of the Kurdistan Region.”
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said all Peshmerga forces had now been placed under the authority of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs and organized within a single military structure covering operations, training, command and control, communications, and accounting.
“Today is a historic day for Kurdistan and the Peshmerga,” Barzani said. “It is also a very special day for me personally.”
