Peshmerga- Facing Death

The Peshmerga, meaning “those who face death,” are the military forces of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and represent one of the most iconic symbols of Kurdish identity and resistance. Emerging in the mid-20th century, they originally formed as guerrilla fighters aligned with Kurdish nationalist movements, particularly under the leadership of Mulla Mustafa Barzani. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, the Peshmerga were central to major Kurdish uprisings against the Iraqi regime, though many of these revolts were crushed due to shifting alliances and betrayals from regional powers, including the U.S. and Iran. After the Gulf War in 1991, the Peshmerga played a vital role in the Kurdish uprising that eventually led to the formation of a semi-autonomous Kurdish region under international protection.

Their international reputation was significantly boosted during the fight against ISIS from 2014 to 2017, when the Peshmerga were among the first effective ground forces to resist the group’s expansion across northern Iraq. They not only protected Kurdish territory but also defended vulnerable minorities like the Yazidis and Christians, often at great personal cost. With support from coalition airstrikes, they were instrumental in halting ISIS advances and reclaiming strategic areas around Mosul and Sinjar.