Peshmerga
Peshmerga is the term used by Kurds to refer to freedom fighters. Literally meaning "those who face death" the peshmerga forces of Kurdistan have been around since the advent of the Kurdish independence movement in the early 1920s, following the collapse of the Ottoman and Qajar empires which had jointly ruled over the area known today as Kurdistan.
Peshmerga forces are often affiliated to prominent personalities such as Sheikh Mahmud or are affiliated to political parties such as the PUK, KDP and PKK. The peshmerga forces are currently involved in a dispute with the military forces of Turkey. This conflict has resulted in 37,000 deaths since its advent in 1984.
Peshmerga forces fought side by side with American troops in the 2003 Iraq War in Northern Iraq. Since that time the Peshmerga have assumed a role in the security of the Kurdish areas of Northern Iraq.
In early 2005 it was speculated by Newsweek magazine that Peshmerga forces could be trained by the US to take on an Sunni rebels in Iraq.
It is estimated that as of January, 2005 there were 80,000 Peshmerga fighters in Northern Iraq. A February 2005 The_New_York_Times article mentioned that Massoud_Barzani wants to retain the Peshmerga forces. The article estimates their number to be 100,000.
Peshmerga forces often wear traditional Kurdish garbs, e.g baggy trousers known as Sharwall and a plain jacket, with colourful sashes. Unlike the other militias, the Peshmerga were not prohibited by the transitional government. They are usually armed with modified AK 47s and 74s, PK79s(light Soviet MG) and Doshkas(Heavy Soviet MG). During the American led invasion the Peshmerga captured the rest of the arms of the Iraqi forces, consisting of more than 2000 armored vehicles(some hundred of them T76s and a smaller number of T55s) and an unknown number of artillery guns). Rumors say that some Peshmerga battailons are trained by IDF staff, which has led to tensions between Turkey and Israel
External Links
Newsweek article speculating on Peshmerga involvement against the Iraqi rebellion
The New York Times article about the current status of Peshmerga
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