SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — A US delegation led by Major General Kevin C. Leahy, commander of the anti-ISIS Coalition Forces in Iraq and Syria, met with high-ranking officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Peshmerga forces on Tuesday to discuss the unification and reform of the Peshmerga forces .
The meeting, held at the Kurdistan Region Presidency headquarters, focused on ongoing reform efforts and was joined online by US Deputy Secretary of Defense Daniel Shapiro.
According to a statement from the KRI Presidency, discussions centered on progress made in the Peshmerga unification process, current challenges, and potential solutions. The unification aims to create a unified, professional force capable of maintaining security in the Kurdistan Region and contributing to broader regional stability.
Both sides stressed the need for continued coordination and US support in the form of training, logistics, and resources. The KRG reaffirmed its commitment to the reform agenda, emphasizing the role of international partners in achieving the unification goals.
The Peshmerga forces remain split between the Kurdistan Region’s two ruling parties, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), with only 24 unified brigades formed despite nearly a decade of US and coalition efforts. These brigades still rely heavily on coalition support for salaries, training, and logistics.