Peshmerga delegation visiting Finland to discuss ISIS war

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish Peshmerga delegation left for Finland on Monday on an official invitation from the Finnish government to discuss the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) and the Peshmerga’s role in defeating the group.

 

“The delegation’s visit to Finland is upon an official invitation by the Finnish government to the Peshmerga; the visit will last three days,” Sirwan Barzani, Peshmerga commander of the Gwer-Makhmour front, told Rudaw.

 

Barzani added that that the Peshmerga are expected to “meet with Finnish officials, including MPs and ministers, to discuss the fight against ISIS, expectations for future steps in the war, and the Peshmerga’s role in defeating the group on the ground.”

 

The delegation consists of Karim Sinjari, the acting Peshmerga minister, Mohammed Haji Mahmoud, Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa, Sirwan Barzani, and additional Peshmerga officials.

 

Finland has 100 specialist military personnel in the Kurdistan Region, training Peshmerga in its fight against ISIS.

 

The Finnish trainers are a member of the Kurdistan Training Coordination Center (KTCC), along with Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Hungary. 

 

Finland is a member of the multinational United States-led coalition fighting ISIS.