Army
Exclusive: Inside Iraq - Part Two
Three hours into the mountains of Northern Iraq is Kurdistan’s second city Sulaymaniyah.
Forces TV is taken to a dusty parade square where hundreds of Peshmerga are receiving their combat uniforms - US Army surplus from the 1990s - and a new assault rifle.
With their best Kurdish pronunciation British soldiers read out the register of new recruits.
Although they’re about to start an eight-week infantry course, many of these Peshmerga are already veterans of the front line.
One of them is 31-year-old Karsan, a father of three. He lived in Peterborough for seven years before returning to Iraq to join the fight against ISIS.
"When they want to attack a Peshmerga base they’re either drunk or drugged or come as suicide bombers. If it is a rainy or foggy night they plant the bombs all over their bodies then come towards our bases on foot."
Another base we visit resembles an empty industrial estate. Here the Rifles are training the ERF - the Peshmerga’s Emergency Reaction Force.
They’re equipped with half a dozen American Humvees, their windscreens peppered with bullet holes.
“This guy was very, very lucky,” a Peshmerga soldier jokes pointing to two sniper rounds embedded in the driver’s glass.
Dan, a Rifles Sergeant, tells me.
“They were originally supplied to the Iraqi Army by the Americans and sprayed a desert colour. When they fled ISIS got hold of them and painted them black. Then the 'Pesh' captured them back near Kirkuk and sprayed them green. They keep them going even though they struggle to find spares."
For the Peshmerga the training they are receiving is welcome, as one of the ERF says.
"It's really good. The training we are getting is really good as we are in the middle of fighting Daesh."
For the British trainers, the process is rewarding for many reasons, among them is the belief they can instil in the Peshmerga fighters. As Dan says.
"The drive is half the battle, if you think you're going to win, nine times out of ten you're going to do it... As long as they stay focussed I don't have any doubt that they will achieve their aim."
Related topics
Join Our Newsletter
