Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs


The Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs is a ministry of the Kurdistan Regional Government responsible for the organization and command of the Peshmerga, the armed forces of the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq. It oversees defense policy, coordination with international partners, and the protection of citizens' security and freedoms.

History

The Peshmerga have their roots in Kurdish armed movements of the 20th century, gradually evolving from partisan militias into a regional military force. Following the establishment of the Kurdistan Region in the 1990s, efforts were made to centralize the command structure, leading to the eventual formation of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs as part of the KRG institutions.

Structure

The ministry commands several so-called Regional Guard Brigades and administrative units, though parts of the Peshmerga remain aligned with the region’s main political parties. It plays a central role in unifying and professionalizing the force within the wider framework of Kurdistan’s security institutions.
With 28 unified RGBs, the Ministry commands 74,400 Peshmerga soldiers, of whom 34,900 are based in the Erbil Governorate, 23,800 in the Duhok Governorate, and 15,700 in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate.
The 1st Support Forces and the 2nd Support Forces, who have been integrated into the MoPA in 2021 and 2022, provide the ministry's RGBs with critical support functions.

Reform efforts

Since the war against the Islamic [State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State ], reform has been a priority for the ministry. In January 2024, the ministry discussed steps toward restructuring and modernizing the Peshmerga with representatives of the United States and other members of the US-led coalition. In December 2023, the inaugural meeting of the Peshmerga Executive Steering Committee, a joint initiative with the coalition, was held to coordinate reform and integration measures.

Leadership

The ministry is headed by the Minister of Peshmerga Affairs, appointed by the KRG cabinet. Since 2019, the position has been held by Shoresh Ismail Abdulla, a veteran Peshmerga commander and member of the KRG’s ninth cabinet.