Kurdistan Region unifies Peshmerga forces under single ministry

The Kurdistan Regional Government has completed the unification of Peshmerga forces under the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, ending a long-standing split between KDP- and PUK-aligned units. This consolidation occurs as US forces draw down and pressure mounts to disarm Iran-backed militias, potentially strengthening the Kurdistan Region's negotiating position with Baghdad. The move is a significant internal security-sector reform, but its operational impact remains to be seen.