Peshmerga ask Finland for increased military support

HELSINKI, Finland—The Peshmerga have asked Finland to remain in the Kurdistan Region after the war on the Islamic State (ISIS) during the visit of a delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to the northern European nation that is a member of the global anti-ISIS coalition. They have also asked for more military support for Peshmerga forces. 

“On Tuesday, we met with deputy Finnish parliament speaker  Mauri Pekkarinen, and defense and foreign committees at the Finnish parliament. We discussed the Peshmerga, the war on ISIS, and collaboration” between the two nations, Brigadier General Hazhar, a member of the Peshmerga delegation, told Rudaw.

Finland has 100 specialist military personnel in the Kurdistan Region, training Peshmerga in its fight against ISIS.

“We have thanked Finland for sending teams and their support for the Peshmerga. We asked for more military and logistical support, and help to treat wounded Peshmerga. We also asked if possible to provide mobile military hospitals for the Peshmerga, increase military advisors in the Kurdistan Region, and after ISIS do not withdraw but stay in Kurdistan,” Hazhar added.

He said that the Finnish parliament committees and deputy speaker had promised to consider the Peshmerga’s requests and recommendations.

The KRG’s Peshmerga delegation left for Finland on Monday on an official invitation from the Finnish government to discuss the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) and the Peshmerga’s role in defeating the group.

The delegation includes Karim Sinjari, the acting Peshmerga minister, Mohammed Haji Mahmoud, Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa, Sirwan Barzani, and additional Peshmerga officials.

The Finnish trainers in Kurdistan and Iraq are a member of the Kurdistan Training Coordination Center (KTCC), along with Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Hungary.