US to arm two more Peshmerga brigades – if Baghdad permits it
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The US is set to arm two Peshmerga brigades with military vehicles and armaments, according to officials. Baghdad is yet to give its assent for the new weaponry, however.
Lieutenant General Jabar Yawar, secretary general of the Peshmerga Ministry, confirmed the US wants to continue its assistance to the Peshmerga. He said the US is set to send arms to two more Peshmerga brigades following earlier assistance.
“Many times, due to disclosing the type and amount of the assistance in media outlets, the Iraqi government and Iran created obstacles for us. We actually have the list of the type and quantity of the arms,” Yawar told Rudaw. He would therefore not elaborate on exact figures.
The US assistance is part of a program established in 2016. It has already armed the 1st and 2nd Peshmerga brigades, according to Major General Qaraman Kamal, deputy chief of staff for operations at the Ministry of Peshmerga.
“Giving assistance to the third and fourth brigades of Peshmerga is within the framework of a loan to Iraq, and part of it is for Peshmerga,” Kamal added.
The assistance includes several different vehicles for transportation, military purposes, tankers, and ambulances, he said. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has already given assent for these to be given to the Peshmerga. However, Abadi has not given his assent to the weapons.
“I believe that the reason why the Iraqi Prime Minister hasn’t given permission for the arms to be sent is due to political reasons. If it isn’t so, why did he give permission for the vehicles to be sent but didn’t do so for the arms?” Kamal asked.
It was ultimately the responsibility of the Americans to get the Iraqi government to allow for the arms to be delivered, he added.
Brigadier General Hazhar Omer told Rudaw: “America has previously sent military assistance for two Peshmerga brigades. It was planned for it to send to two more Peshmerga brigades. We have been waiting for some time, but unfortunately the Iraqi government is delaying it, and we are still waiting. The reason is clearly political.”
The US government is part of a global coalition helping the Peshmerga. The US and its allies are pushing for reforms within the Peshmerga Ministry.
The Peshmerga is divided into three units. One group is under the command of the Ministry of Peshmerga, while the other two groups are under the control of political parties: the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)’s 70th Units and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)’s 80th Units.
Initiatives to mix some of these brigades are on the agenda – with mixed results in practice. During the October 16 events, the PUK part of the mixed brigades left their trenches following commands from the party, splitting the mixed brigades.
Lieutenant General Jabar Yawar, secretary general of the Peshmerga Ministry, confirmed the US wants to continue its assistance to the Peshmerga. He said the US is set to send arms to two more Peshmerga brigades following earlier assistance.
“Many times, due to disclosing the type and amount of the assistance in media outlets, the Iraqi government and Iran created obstacles for us. We actually have the list of the type and quantity of the arms,” Yawar told Rudaw. He would therefore not elaborate on exact figures.
The US assistance is part of a program established in 2016. It has already armed the 1st and 2nd Peshmerga brigades, according to Major General Qaraman Kamal, deputy chief of staff for operations at the Ministry of Peshmerga.
“Giving assistance to the third and fourth brigades of Peshmerga is within the framework of a loan to Iraq, and part of it is for Peshmerga,” Kamal added.
The assistance includes several different vehicles for transportation, military purposes, tankers, and ambulances, he said. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has already given assent for these to be given to the Peshmerga. However, Abadi has not given his assent to the weapons.
“I believe that the reason why the Iraqi Prime Minister hasn’t given permission for the arms to be sent is due to political reasons. If it isn’t so, why did he give permission for the vehicles to be sent but didn’t do so for the arms?” Kamal asked.
It was ultimately the responsibility of the Americans to get the Iraqi government to allow for the arms to be delivered, he added.
Brigadier General Hazhar Omer told Rudaw: “America has previously sent military assistance for two Peshmerga brigades. It was planned for it to send to two more Peshmerga brigades. We have been waiting for some time, but unfortunately the Iraqi government is delaying it, and we are still waiting. The reason is clearly political.”
The weapons sent so far do not meet all of the needs of the brigades, he added.
The US government is part of a global coalition helping the Peshmerga. The US and its allies are pushing for reforms within the Peshmerga Ministry.
The Peshmerga is divided into three units. One group is under the command of the Ministry of Peshmerga, while the other two groups are under the control of political parties: the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)’s 70th Units and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)’s 80th Units.
Initiatives to mix some of these brigades are on the agenda – with mixed results in practice. During the October 16 events, the PUK part of the mixed brigades left their trenches following commands from the party, splitting the mixed brigades.