Peshmerga Explained

Peshmerga
Native Name:Kurdish: پێشمەرگه|rtl=yes
Motto:Ey Reqîb[1]
Founded:1920s/1946
Current Form:2003–present
Headquarters:Erbil, Kurdistan Region
Commander-In-Chief:Nêçîrvan Barzanî
Commander-In-Chief Title:President of Kurdistan Region
Chief Minister:Şoreş Îsmaîl Abdulla
Chief Minister Title:Minister of Peshmerga Affairs
Conscription:None
Active:150,000 (see § Structure)
Age:21–41
History:Before 2003:
After 2003:
Domestic Suppliers: Iraq[2]

The Peshmerga (Kurdish: پێشمەرگه,)[3] comprise the standing military of Kurdistan Region, an autonomous political entity within the Republic of Iraq. According to the Constitution of Iraq, the Peshmerga and their security subsidiaries are solely responsible for the security of Kurdistan Region, chiefly due to the fact that the Iraqi Armed Forces are forbidden to enter Iraqi Kurdistan.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] These subsidiaries include Asayish (intelligence agency/security forces), Parastin û Zanyarî (assisting intelligence agency), and Zêrevanî (the gendarmerie). The Peshmerga's history dates back to the 18th century, when they began as a strictly tribal pseudo-military border guard under the Ottoman Turks and the Safavid Iranians. By the 19th century, they had evolved into a disciplined and well-trained guerrilla force.[11]

Formally, the Peshmerga are under the command of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs of the Kurdistan Regional Government. In practice, however, the Peshmerga's structure is largely divided and controlled separately by the two Iraqi Kurdish political parties: the Democratic Party of Kurdistan and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Though unifying and integrating the Peshmerga has been on the Kurdistan Region's public agenda since 1992, the individual forces remain divided due to factionalism, which has proved to be a major stumbling block.[12]

Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Peshmerga played a key role in helping the United States on the mission to capture deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.[13] [14] In 2004, they captured Saudi-born Pakistani terrorist Hassan Ghul, who was operating for al-Qaeda in Iraq. Ghul was turned over to American intelligence officers shortly afterwards, and revealed the identity of several key al-Qaeda figures during his interrogation, which eventually led to the killing of Osama bin Laden in a covert American military operation in Pakistan in 2011.[15] [16] [17] One year later, in 2012, Ghul was assassinated by an American drone strike in northwestern Pakistan.

Etymology

The word "Peshmerga" can be translated to "to stand in front of death",[18] [19] [20] and Valentine states it was first used by Qazi Muhammad in the short-lived Mahabad Republic (1946–47).[21] The word is understandable to Persian speakers.[22]

History

See main article: History of the Peshmerga.

The Kurdish warrior tradition of rebellion has existed for thousands of years along with aspirations for independence, and early Kurdish warriors fought against the various Persian empires, the Ottoman Empire and the British Empire.[23]

Historically the Peshmerga existed only as guerrilla organizations, but under the self-declared Republic of Mahabad (1946–1947), the Peshmerga led by Mustafa Barzani became the official army of the republic.[24] After the fall of the republic and the execution of head of state Qazi Muhammad, Peshmerga forces reemerged as guerrilla organizations that would go on to fight the Iranian and Iraqi governments for the remainder of the century.[25]

In Iraq, most of these Peshmerga were led by Mustafa Barzani of the Kurdistan Democratic Party.[26] In 1975 the Peshmerga were defeated in the Second Iraqi–Kurdish War. Jalal Talabani, a leading member of the KDP, left the same year to revitalize the resistance and founded the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. This event created the baseline for the political discontent between the KDP and PUK that to this day divides Peshmerga forces and much of Kurdish society in Kurdistan.[27] [28]

After Mustafa Barzani's death in 1979, his son Masoud Barzani took his position. As tension increased between KDP and PUK, most Peshmerga fought to keep a region under their own party's control while also fighting off Iraqi Army incursions. Following the First Persian Gulf War, Iraqi Kurdistan saw the Kurdish Civil War between the two major parties, the KDP and the PUK, and Peshmerga forces were used to fight each other.[29] The civil war officially ended in September 1998 when Barzani and Talabani signed the Washington Agreement establishing a formal peace treaty.[30] In the agreement, the parties agreed to share revenue and power, deny the use of northern Iraq to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and not allow Iraqi troops into the Kurdish regions. By then, around 5,000 had been killed on both sides, and many more had been evicted for being on the wrong side.[31] In the years after, tension remained high, but both parties moved towards each other, and in 2003 they both took part in the overthrowing of the Baathist regime as part of the Iraq War. Unlike other militia forces, the Peshmerga were never prohibited by Iraqi law.[32] In 2014, the Peshmerga withdrew from the Nineveh Plains which was said by the locals as being a contributing factor of the quick Islamic State victory in the invasion, and the widespread massacre of Yazidis, who were rendered defenseless.[33]

Structure and capabilities

The Peshmerga are mostly divided among forces loyal to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and those loyal to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK),[34] while other, minor Kurdish parties such as the Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party also have their own small Peshmerga units.[35] The KDP and PUK do not disclose information about the composition of their forces with government or media. Thus there is no reliable number of how many Peshmerga fighters exist. Media outlets have speculated that there are between 150,000 and 200,000 Peshmerga, but this number is highly disputed.[36] [37] Peshmerga have divided Kurdistan Region into a KDP-governed "yellow" zone covering Dohuk Governorate and Erbil Governorate and a PUK-governed "green" zone covering Sulaymaniyah Governorate and Halabja Governorate.[38] Each zone has its own branch of Peshmerga with their own governing institutions that do not coordinate with the other branch.[39]

As a result of the split nature of the Peshmerga forces, there is no central command center in charge of the entire force, and Peshmerga units instead follow separate military hierarchies depending on political allegiance.[40] Multiple unification and depoliticizing efforts of the Peshmerga have been made since 1992. But so far all deadlines have been missed, reforms have been watered down, and most of the Peshmerga are still under the influence of the KDP and the PUK, who also maintain their separate Peshmerga forces. Following the events of the Iraqi Civil War in 2014, the United States and several Europe nations pressured the PUK and KDP to set up mixed brigades of Peshmerga as a condition for aid and funding. The PUK and KDP united 12 to 14 brigades under the Regional Guard Brigades, which were then placed under the command of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs. However, officers continue to report to and take orders from their party leaders who also control the deployment of forces loyal to them and appoint front-line and sector commanders.

Both the KDP and the PUK rely heavily on irregulars in times of conflict to increase their ranks.[41] However, both maintain several professional military brigades. The following units have been identified within the Peshmerga force:

Force Estimated size Commander Party affiliation
Regional Guard Brigades 40,000–43,000 Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs Supposedly apolitical
Hezekani Kosrat Rasul 2,000–3,000 PUK
Anti-terror force 5,000[42] Lahur Shekh Jangi PUK
Presidential Peshmerga brigades unknown PUK
70 Unit 60,000 Sheikh Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa PUK. Supposedly becoming incorporated into MPA[43]
Emergency Forces 3,000 unknown PUK
PUK Asayish (security) force unknown unknown PUK
unknown W
80 Unit 70,000–90,000 Najat Ali Salih KDP. Supposedly becoming incorporated into MPA
Zerevani 51,000–120,000 active/250,000 reservists[44] Masoud Barzani KDP
Êzîdxan Protection Force[45] 7,000[46] –8,000[47] Haydar SheshoYazidi Democratic Party, Incorporated into Peshmerga Ministry[48]
Nineveh Plain Guard Forces or "Christian Peshmerga"[49] 1,500 unknown Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council
KDP Asayish (security) force unknown unknown KDP

Due to limited funding and the vast size of the Peshmerga forces, the KRG has long planned to downsize its forces from large numbers of low-quality forces to a smaller but much more effective and well-trained force.[50] Consequently, in 2009, the KRG and Baghdad engaged in discussions about incorporating parts of the Peshmerga forces into the Iraqi Army in what would be the 15th and 16th Iraqi Army divisions.[51] [52] However, after increasing tension between Erbil and Baghdad regarding the disputed areas, the transfer was largely put on hold. Some Peshmerga were already transferred but reportedly deserted again, and there are allegations that former Peshmerga forces remained loyal to the KRG rather than their Iraqi chain of command; regardless, thousands of members of the 80 Unit of KDP and the 70 Unit of PUK are based in Baghdad, and they have good cooperation with other Iraqi forces in Baghdad.[53] [54] [55]

The Peshmerga forces are secular with a Muslim majority and Assyrian and Yazidi units.[56] [57]

Peshmerga forces largely rely on old arms captured from battles. The Peshmerga captured stockpiles of weapons during the 1991 Iraqi uprisings.[58] Several stockpiles of weapons were captured from the old Iraqi Army during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, in which Peshmerga forces were active. Following the retreat of the new Iraqi Army during the June 2014 Islamic State offensive, Peshmerga forces reportedly again managed to get hold of weapons left behind by the Army.[59] Since August 2014, Peshmerga forces have also captured weapons from the Islamic State.[60] In 2015, for the first time, Peshmerga soldiers received urban warfare and military intelligence training from foreign trainers, the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.[61]

The Peshmerga arsenal is limited and confined by restrictions because the Kurdish Region has to purchase arms through the Iraqi government. Due to disputes between the KRG and the Iraqi government, arms flows from Baghdad to Kurdistan Region have been almost nonexistent, as Baghdad fears Kurdish aspirations for independence.[62] [63] After the Islamic State offensive of August 2014, multiple governments armed the Peshmerga with some light equipment such as light arms, night goggles, and ammunition.[64] [65] However, Kurdish officials and Peshmerga stressed that they were not receiving enough. They also stress that Baghdad was blocking all arms from reaching the KRG, emphasizing the need for weapons to be sent directly to the KRG and not through Baghdad.[66] [67] Despite this, the United States has maintained that the government of Iraq is responsible for the security of Iraqi Kurdistan and that Baghdad must approve all military aid.

The Peshmerga lack a proper medical corps and communication units. This became apparent during the Islamic State offensive in 2014 where the Peshmerga found itself lacking ambulances and frontline field hospitals, forcing wounded fighters to walk back to safety. There is also a lack of communication tools, as Peshmerga commanders are forced to use civilian cellphones to communicate with each other. Under the guidance of the US-led coalition the Peshmerga has started to standardize its weapons systems, replacing Soviet-era weapons with NATO firearms.

Inventory

Small arms

NameOriginTypeCaliberNotes
Pistols
P1GermanySemi-automatic pistol9×19mm Parabellum
Rifles and carbines
AK-47Soviet UnionAssault rifle7.62×39mm[68]
AKMSoviet UnionAssault rifle7.62×39mm
M16United StatesAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATOM16A4 variant used.[69]
M4United StatesAssault carbine5.56×45mm NATO[70]
H&K G36GermanyAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATO
H&K G3GermanyBattle rifle7.62×51mm NATO
SVDSoviet Union Designated marksman rifle7.62×54mmR
Zijiang M99ChinaAnti-materiel rifle12.7×108mm
Machine guns
PKMSoviet UnionGeneral-purpose machine gun7.62×54mmR[71]
M240BUnited StatesGeneral-purpose machine gun7.62×51mm NATO
MG3GermanyGeneral-purpose machine gun7.62×51mm NATOIncludes the Beretta MG 42/59 variant.
DShKSoviet UnionHeavy machine gun12.7×108mm[72]
M2 BrowningUnited StatesHeavy machine gun12.7×99mm NATO
Grenade launchers
Neopup PAW-20Grenade launcherSouth Africa20×42mm[73]
Denel Y3 AGLAutomatic grenade launcherSouth Africa40×53mm
QLZ-87Automatic grenade launcherChina35×32mmSR[74]
Anti-tank weapons
RPG-7Soviet UnionRocket-propelled grenade40 mm
SPG-9Soviet UnionRecoilless gun73 mm
Carl GustafSwedenRecoilless rifle84 mm
M40United States Recoilless rifle 105 mm
HJ-8ChinaAnti-tank guided missile120 mm
9M14 MalyutkaSoviet UnionAnti-tank guided missile125 mm
9M113 KonkursSoviet UnionAnti-tank guided missile135 mm
9M133 KornetRussiaAnti-tank guided missile152 mm
MILANFrance / GermanyAnti-tank guided missile115 mm
BGM-71 TOWUnited StatesAnti-tank guided missile152 mm

Combat vehicles

NameOriginVariantQuantityNotes
Main battle tanks
T-55Soviet UnionT-54
T-55
T-62Soviet Union
Type 69China
Reconnaissance
EE-9 CascavelBrazil
Armoured personnel carriers
MT-LBSoviet Union
EE-11 UrutuBrazil2+
Type 63China
MRAPs
CougarUnited States6×6
IAG GuardianUnited Arab Emirates
STREIT Group SpartanUnited Arab Emirates
BAE CaimanUnited States
MaxxproUnited States
RevaSouth Africa
Wer'wolf MKIINamibia
Utility vehicles
HumveeUnited StatesM115136 Humvees and 77 up-armored Humvees supplied by the US in 2017
ATF DingoGermanyDingo 1Up to 18
M1117United States
Otokar APVTurkey
Armoured recovery vehicle
Type 653 ARVChina1+

Artillery

NameOriginCaliberQuantityNotes
Self-propelled artillery
2S1 GvodzikaSoviet Union122 mm
Towed artillery
M119United States105 mm36 M119A2 supplied by the US in 2017.
D-30Soviet Union122 mm6+
M-46Soviet Union130 mm
Type 59China130 mm
D-20Soviet Union152 mm
Multiple rocket launchers
Type 63China107 mmMounted on technicals.
BM-21 GradSoviet Union122 mm
HM20Iran122 mm
Mortars
M224United States60 mm
M252United States81 mm
M120United States120 mm

Issues

The Peshmerga forces are plagued by frequent allegations of corruption, partisanship, nepotism, and fraud.[75] [76] [77] [78] A common result of corruption in the Peshmerga are "ghost employees" which are employees on paper who either do not exist or do not show up for work but receive a salary. Those setting up such a scam split the salary of these employees.

In addition the KDP and PUK have used the Peshmerga to exert or attempt to exert a monopoly on the use of force within their zones. In 2011 KDP Peshmerga fired on anti-government protesters in Sulaymaniyah, and the PUK later used its own security forces to break up these protests, leading to criticism from all of the opposition parties in the parliament. In 2014 the KDP used its Peshmerga to stop ministers from the Gorran Movement to enter Erbil and attend parliament.

Outside of Kurdistan Region the Peshmerga has been criticized for using force to exert control of local Arab, Yazidi and Assyrian communities, particularly after taking control of areas officially outside of Kurdistan Region during the Iraqi Civil War.[79]

Role of women

See main article: Kurdish women. Women have played a significant role in the Peshmerga since its foundation. The Kurdish Zand tribe was known for allowing women in military roles. During the Iraqi–Kurdish conflict the majority of women served within the Peshmerga in supporting roles such as building camps, taking care of the wounded, and carrying munitions and messages. Several women brigades served on the front lines. Margaret George Malik[80] was an iconic[81] Assyrian guerilla fighter who was given a leading position in important battles such as the battle of Zawita Valley.[82] The PUK started recruiting women during the Kurdish Civil War. Women were given a 45-day basic training that included parade drills and basic marksmanship with various rifles, mortars, and RPGs.

In the months leading up to the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, the United States launched Operation Viking Hammer which dealt a huge blow to Islamic terrorist groups in Iraqi Kurdistan and uncovered a chemical weapons facility.[83] [84] [85] [86] [87] The PUK later confirmed that female Kurdish fighters had participated in the operation.The modern Peshmerga is almost entirely made up of men, while having at least 600 women in their ranks.[88] In the KDP, these Peshmerga women have been refused access to the frontline and are mostly used in logistics and management positions,[89] but PUK Peshmerga women are deployed in the front lines and are actively engaged in combat.[90] [91]

See also

Bibliography

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Hundreds of Christians join Peshmerga. 3 July 2019 . Kurdistan24 . 19 February 2016.
  2. News: Iraq supplies Kurds with ammunition in unprecedented move, U.S. says . 26 July 2019 . Reuters . 9 August 2014 . en.
  3. Web site: Peshmerga and the Ongoing Fight against ISIS . 31 July 2018 . 27 March 2016 . July 3, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190703183200/https://kurdistantribune.com/Peshmerga-and-the-ongoing-fight-against-isis/ . dead .
  4. Web site: Constitution of Iraq.
  5. Web site: Summary of the most important tasks of the Ministry of Peshmerga . Ministry of Peshmerga . 12 November 2012 . 13 February 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150112042513/http://mope.krg.org/about-e.php?z=8&l=3 . 12 January 2015 .
  6. Jay . Newton-Small . Destination Kurdistan: Is This Autonomous Iraqi Region a Budding Tourist Hot Spot? . . 31 December 2012 . 13 February 2015.
  7. Web site: Heath . Druzin . Rare terrorist attack in peaceful Kurdish region of Iraq kills 6 . . 29 September 2013 . 13 February 2015.
  8. Web site: Jenna . Krajeski . The Iraq War Was a Good Idea, If You Ask the Kurds . . 20 March 2013 . 14 February 2015.
  9. Web site: 28 July 2012. Iraqi PM criticizes Kurdish region for barring army from Syrian border area. https://web.archive.org/web/20120731011722/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-07/28/c_131745233.htm. dead. July 31, 2012. 13 February 2015. Xinhua News Agency.
  10. Web site: 2014. Information about Kurdistan. 13 February 2015. Kurdistan Development Organization.
  11. Lortz . Michael G. . 2005 . Willing to Face Death: A History of Kurdish Military Forces – the Peshmerga – from the Ottoman Empire to Present-Day Iraq . MA thesis . Florida State University . en.
  12. van Wilgenburg. Wladimir. Fumerton. Mario. Kurdistan's Political Armies: The Challenge of Unifying the Peshmerga Forces.. Carnegie Middle East Center. 16 December 2015. 12 February 2018.
  13. News: Manish . Rai . Kurdish Peshmerga Can Be a Game-changer in Iraq And Syria . . 6 October 2014 . 14 February 2015.
  14. Web site: Operation Red Dawn's eight-month hunt . . 15 December 2003 . 14 February 2015.
  15. News: How the CIA really caught Bin Laden's trail . Ambinder . Marc . . 29 April 2013 . 14 February 2015.
  16. Web site: Arom . Roston . Cloak and Drone: The Strange Saga of an Al Qaeda Triple Agent . . 9 January 2014 . 14 February 2015 . June 25, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190625232507/https://www.vocativ.com/usa/nat-sec/cloak-drone-strange-saga-al-qaeda-triple-agent/ . dead .
  17. Valentine, Peshmerga: Those who Face Death, 2018, chapter five.
  18. Web site: Allegra . Stratton . Hero of the people . . 26 June 2006 . 14 February 2015.
  19. Web site: Koerner . Brendan . What does the Kurdish word Peshmerga mean? . Slate.com . 2003-03-21 . 2016-10-18.
  20. From the Kurdish Kurdish: pêş ({{big|پێش) "before" and Kurdish: merg {{big|مەرگ "death".
  21. Valentine, Those Who Face Death, KDP, 2018.
  22. Book: Stilo, Donald . Aspects of Iranian Linguistics . Cambridge Scholars Publishing . March 2008 . 9781443810135 . 19 October 2017.
  23. S. R. Valentine, Peshmerga: Those Who Face Death, KDP, 2018, see the introduction and chapter one.
  24. Web site: Mufid . Abdulla . Mahabad – the first independent Kurdish republic . The Kurdistan Tribune . 12 June 2011 . 14 February 2015 . May 28, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160528231328/http://kurdistantribune.com/2011/mahabad-first-independent-kurdish-republic/ . dead .
  25. Book: Meiselas, Susan . Kurdistan: In the Shadow of History . 2nd . . 2008 . 978-0-226-51928-9.
  26. Web site: President . Kurdistan Regional Government Representation in Spain . 2015 . 14 February 2015.
  27. The Kurds between Iran and Iraq. van Bruinessen, Martin. 1986. MERIP Middle East Report. 141. 14–27. JSTOR. 10.2307/3011925. 3011925 . 0888-0328.
  28. Web site: Getting Peshmerga Reform Right: Helping the Iraqi Kurds to Help Themselves in Post-ISIS Iraq - Foreign Policy Research Institute. www.fpri.org.
  29. S. R. Valentine, Peshmerga: Those Who Face Death, KDP, 2018, chapter six.
  30. Web site: Frman . Abdulrahman . Never-ending mystery: what really happened to Kurdish civil war missing . niqash . 23 February 2012 . 22 February 2015.
  31. Web site: Charles . McDermid . New force emerges in Kirkuk . https://web.archive.org/web/20100222221442/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/LB20Ak02.html . unfit . 22 February 2010 . . 20 February 2010 . 22 February 2015.
  32. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28738975 Profile: Who are the Peshmerga?
  33. Web site: van den Toorn. Christine. August 17, 2014. How the U.S.-Favored Kurds Abandoned the Yazidis when ISIS Attacked. June 27, 2020. Institute of Regional & International Studies. June 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200627185938/https://auis.edu.krd/iris/staff-publications/how-us-favored-kurds-abandoned-yazidis-when-isis-attacked. dead.
  34. Helfont. Samuel. Getting Peshmerga Reform Right: Helping the Iraqi Kurds to Help Themselves in Post-ISIS Iraq.. Foreign Policy Research Institute. 1 March 2017. 16. 13.
  35. Web site: Kaka Hama, head of Kurdish Socialist Party joins Mosul battle plan with force . . 16 October 2016 . 24 February 2018.
  36. News: Over 150,000 enlisted as Peshmerga troops in Kurdistan Region, official data shows . Rudaw . 13 August 2017. 3 April 2017.
  37. News: Hawramy. Fazel. Kurdish Peshmerga divisions hamper war effort. 12 February 2018. Al-monitor. 13 January 2015.
  38. Chapman, Dennis. Security Forces of Kurdistan Regional Government, US Army War College. 2009, p. 3.
  39. S. R. Valentine, Peshmerga: Those Who Face Death, KDP, 2018, chapter 9.
  40. Web site: Lebanonwire.com – Kurdish Peshmerga Forces Have Room to Grow. lebanonwire.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150113050615/http://lebanonwire.com/1409MLN/14091314STR.asp. 2015-01-13.
  41. News: Howard. Michael. Revenge spurs women's army. 13 February 2018. The Guardian. 26 November 2002.
  42. Web site: kurdistanskyscrapers.com. kurdistanskyscrapers.com.
  43. Web site: Peshmerga Ministry reforms launched to reunify PUK, KDP forces . 31 July 2018.
  44. Web site: Barzani: Düzenli ordu yakında. 2008-06-06. Milliyet. 2007-07-20. İhsan. Dortkardes. ku. https://web.archive.org/web/20110129060057/http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurds/3415.html. January 29, 2011. dead.
  45. Web site: Haider Shesho: Ezidkhan Units take orders from President Barzani, Peshmerga Ministry. Kurdistan24. Baxtiyar Goran. 9 March 2017.
  46. http://ezidipress.com/blog/is-terror-in-shingal-wer-kaempft-gegen-wen-ein-ueberblick/ IS-Terror in Shingal: Wer kämpft gegen wen? Ein Überblick
  47. http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/12/iraq-kurdistan-sinjar-liberated-isis-hegemony.html# With the Islamic State gone from Sinjar, Kurdish groups battle for control
  48. Web site: Editorial Staff. 2017-04-18. Haider Shesho resigns from PUK, to form new Yazidi Democratic Party. 2021-06-21. Kurd Net – Ekurd.net Daily News. en-US.
  49. Web site: Confidence- and Security-Building Measures in the Nineveh Plains. The Washington Institute.
  50. Book: Withdrawal from Iraq. 9780892065530. 20 March 2015. Cordesman. Anthony H.. Mausner. Adam. 2009.
  51. Book: Iraq and the United States. 9780892065950. 20 March 2015. Cordesman. Anthony H.. Mausner. Adam. Derby. Elena. 2010.
  52. Chapman, Dennis. Security Forces of Kurdistan Regional Government, US Army War College. 2009, p. 112.
  53. News: Peshmerga, Iraqi Army form committees to start joint ops in disputed areas . Rudaw .
  54. Web site: 1,000 Kurdish soldiers desert from Iraqi army . Hurriyet Daily News. June 13, 2013 . 20 March 2015.
  55. News: Iraq's army and Kurds will join forces to retake Mosul . PRI .
  56. News: Iraqi Kurds, Yazidis fight Islamic State for strategic town of Sinjar . Reuters. December 21, 2014 . 20 March 2015. Coles . Isabel .
  57. Web site: Mosul Christians form army under Peshmerga direction . Rudaw. 20 March 2015.
  58. Web site: Iraqi Defense Ministry Asks KRG To Return Saddam-Era Weapons . Al-Monitor. June 28, 2013 . 20 March 2015.
  59. Web site: As ISIL retreats, Iraqi Kurds gain new ammunition. Hugh Naylor. The National. September 18, 2014. 20 March 2015.
  60. Web site: Kurdish forces captured an ISIS base after a two-day siege – but the ISIS fighters inside somehow slipped away. Richard Spencer, The Telegraph. 3 October 2014. National Post. 20 March 2015.
  61. News: Coalition helps Peshmerga muscle up on urban warfare. 17 April 2015. Rudaw. 16 April 2015.
  62. Web site: Iraq's Peshmerga desperate for US arms in fight against ISIS. Hollie McKay. Fox News. 20 March 2015.
  63. Web site: Arms for Kurdish Peshmerga to affect military balance. Deutsche Welle. 20 March 2015.
  64. Web site: UK prepares to supply arms directly to Kurdish forces fighting Isis. Nicholas Watt. The Guardian. August 14, 2014. 23 October 2014.
  65. Web site: Seven western states join US to arm Iraqi Kurdistan: Pentagon. ekurd.net.
  66. News: Iraq's Kurds appeal for new U.S. arms to combat Islamic State. Washington Post. 20 March 2015.
  67. News: Iraqi Kurds say West not providing enough arms to defeat Islamic State. Reuters. November 19, 2014. 20 March 2015.
  68. Web site: Bender . Jeremy . As The Kurds Mobilize In Iraq, Here's A Look At What They Have In Their Arsenal . Business Insider . 20 August 2024 . 30 June 2014.
  69. News: Mehta . Aaron . State OKs Humvees, howitzers for Iraqi peshmerga in ISIS fight . 20 August 2024 . Defense News . 19 April 2017 . en.
  70. News: Stewart . Phil . Spetalnick . Matt . U.S. quietly starts channeling arms from $1.6 billion fund to Iraq . 20 August 2024 . Reuters . 5 June 2015.
  71. News: Ackerman . Elliot . Eight Men, and One Gun, on the Iraqi Front . 20 August 2024 . The New Yorker . 17 November 2014.
  72. News: Bosch . Marius . The Kurdish gun fixer taking aim at Islamic State . 20 August 2024 . Reuters . 7 November 2016.
  73. Web site: The South African Defence Industry Database. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043437/http://defenceindustry.co.za/category/peshmerga/ . March 6, 2019 .
  74. Web site: Smallwood . Michael . Kurdish Forces with Chinese QLZ87 Automatic Grenade Launcher & M99 Anti-materiel Rifle – Small Arms Defense Journal . Small Arms Defense Journal . 20 August 2024 . 9 August 2023.
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  76. Web site: KRG and the 'godfathers': 2006 secret US cable on Wikileaks . The Kurdistan Tribune . 8 May 2014 . 22 February 2015.
  77. Web site: Jacqueline . Devigne . "Iraqoncilable" Differences? The Political Nature of the Peshmerga . NIMEP Insights . 2011 . 22 February 2015.
  78. Web site: PUK official warns Peshmerga will not take orders from anyone else: Iraqi Kurdistan. 20 March 2015.
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  85. Web site: An interview on public radio with the author. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930081326/http://wamu.org/audio/dr/08/10/r2081007-22101.asx . dead . September 30, 2011.
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