Peshmerga

Peshmerga, peshmarga or peshmerge (Kurdish: pê?merge) is the term used by Kurds to refer to freedom fighters. Literally meaning "those who face death" (pê? front + merg death e is) 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.

Related Topics:
Kurd - Freedom fighter - Kurdistan - 1920s - Ottoman - Qajar

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Peshmerga forces are often affiliated to prominent personalities such as Sheikh Mahmud or are affiliated to political parties such as the PUK, KDP.

Related Topics:
Sheikh Mahmud - PUK - KDP

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The PKK forces are currently involved in a dispute with the military forces of Turkey. This conflict has resulted in 37,000 deaths since it started in 1984.

Related Topics:
PKK - Turkey - 1984

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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.

Related Topics:
American - 2003 Iraq War - Iraq

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In early 2005 it was speculated by Newsweek magazine that Peshmerga forces could be trained by the US to take on Sunni rebels in Iraq.

Related Topics:
2005 - Newsweek - Sunni - Iraq

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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.

Related Topics:
January - February - The New York Times - Massoud Barzani

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Peshmerga forces often wear traditional Kurdish garbs, e.g. baggy trousers known as sharwall and a plain jacket, with colourful sashes.

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Unlike the other militias, the Peshmerga were not prohibited by the transitional government.

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They are usually armed with AK-47s and AK-74s, RPKs (light Soviet machine guns) and DShKs (heavy Soviet machine guns). 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.

Related Topics:
AK-47 - AK-74 - RPK - Soviet - DShK - Armored vehicle

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Rumors say that some Peshmerga battailons are trained by IDF staff, which has led to tensions between Turkey and Israel.

Related Topics:
IDF - Turkey - Israel

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