Peshmerga Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Peshmerga پێشمەرگه Pêşmerge
Active	Early 1920s–present
Allegiance	Kurdistan Regional Government^{(disputed, see Structure)}
Branch	Army
Size	247,000^{(disputed, see Structure)}
Headquarter	Erbil
March	Ey Reqîb
Engagements	First Iraqi–Kurdish War Second Iraqi–Kurdish War Iran–Iraq War Persian Gulf War Iraq War Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present) War on Terror Syrian Civil War Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013) Iraqi Civil War (2014–present) Third Iraqi-Kurdish War Other battles and wars
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	Masoud Barzani
Minister of Peshmerga Affairs	Mustafa Sayid Qadir
Notable commanders	Mustafa Barzani Masoud Barzani Jalal Talabani Nawshirwan Mustafa

The Peshmerga (pronounced PESH-mer-gah) are the official military forces of Iraqi Kurdistan. This is a special region in northern Iraq. The word "Peshmerga" means "those who face death" in Kurdish. They are responsible for keeping the region safe.

The regular Iraqi army is not allowed to enter Iraqi Kurdistan. This means the Peshmerga are the main security force there. They work to protect the people and borders of their region.

What is the Peshmerga?
- How the Peshmerga are Organized
- Important Roles and Battles
  - Fighting in the Iraq War
  - Role Against Terrorist Groups
Images for kids
See also

What is the Peshmerga?

The Peshmerga are the armed forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government. This government leads the Kurdish region in Iraq. Besides the Peshmerga, other groups help with security. These include the Asayish, which is an intelligence agency. There is also the Zeravani, which acts like a military police force.

The Peshmerga's roots go back to the early 1900s. They were officially formed in 1943. However, their history is much older. They grew from tribal groups that guarded borders under older empires like the Ottomans.

How the Peshmerga are Organized

Officially, the Peshmerga are led by the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs. This ministry is part of the Kurdistan Regional Government. However, the forces are actually split. They are largely controlled by two main political parties in the region. These are the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

For many years, there have been efforts to unite these forces. But it has been difficult because of political differences between the parties.

Important Roles and Battles

The Peshmerga have played a big part in many conflicts. They have fought in several wars in the region.

Fighting in the Iraq War

In 2003, during the Iraq War, the Peshmerga were very important. They helped to capture Saddam Hussein, who was the leader of Iraq.

Role Against Terrorist Groups

The Peshmerga have also been key in fighting terrorist groups. In 2004, they captured a major figure from Al-Qaeda. This capture helped lead to finding Osama bin Laden.

More recently, the Peshmerga were part of the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In 2017, they helped take back the city of Mosul from ISIL. This was a very important victory.

Images for kids

Peshmerga special unit near the Syrian border on June 23, 2014.
Peshmerga soldiers stand in formation during the Modern Brigade Course graduation ceremony.
A Peshmerga American interpreter with US military, with a refugee during Operation Inherent Resolve, Duhok
People's Defense Units' (YPG) woman volunteer with Peshmerga soldier

Peshmerga facts for kids

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