US continues buildup of Iraqi Kurdish forces
The United States is supporting the Kurdistan Region by developing its military forces, but the support is a balancing act with Baghdad as they oppose building an independent Kurdish army.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) issued a statement May 7 on the efforts of a team of experts affiliated with the US, British and German Ministries of Defense working on “restructuring the peshmerga-affiliated military forces,” with the aim of “building a professional and integrated military force for the peshmerga.”
Gen. Jamal Iminki, the chief of staff of the peshmerga forces, announced April 29 that the Peshmerga Ministry is seeking to review the structure of the ministry. He noted that the first stage of this procedure would be the reorganization of two brigades with the help of the United States.
On April 19, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which is part of the US Department of Defense, announced the approval of the United States to sell $295 million worth of weapons and military equipment to equip two infantry brigades in the peshmerga, as well as two artillery support brigades.
According to Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, the KRG representative in the United States, America is paying for these shipments. Peshmerga Secretary-General Jabbar Yawer described the deal April 20 "as part of the American's ongoing support for the Kurdish forces.”
