Gulan Special Forces

Gulan Special Forces
Hezê Gulan
Active2014–present
Country Iraq
Allegiance Kurdistan Regional Government
KDP
BranchPeshmerga
TypeSpecial Forces
RoleSpecial Operations
Size6,000 (2016)
Garrison/HQPirmam, Erbil
NicknamePeshmerga Special Forces
ColorsRed   & Golden yellow  
Commanders
Current CommanderMansour Barzani

The Gulan Special Forces (Kurdish: Hezê Gulan or Hezekanî Gulan) or Special Forces Gulan Division is an elite special forces unit of the Peshmerga, the military forces of the Kurdistan Region. The unit is affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and being commanded by Mansour Barzani, the son of Masoud Barzani.[1][2][3] In peacetime the unit is tasked with defending the KRG President and the presidential compound.[4]

Name

The unit is named after the Gulan Revolution of May 1976, which marked a renewal of organized Kurdish resistance against the Ba’athist regime.[5]

History

As a well-equipped special forces unit, the Gulan Forces fought on the Mosul front during the War against the Islamic State. The unit was commanded by Mansour Barzani while his son Yasser Barzani was part of the unit too.[1][2][6] In late 2014, the unit liberated the city of Rabia together with the Duhok Anti-Terror Units from ISIS. In August 2016, the unit liberated many Kaka'i and Shabaki areas in the Nineveh Plains from ISIS' control.[7] From August 16 to August 18 2016, Mansour led an offensive that freed several more villages from ISIS. During the offensive, he instructed his forces to prevent the militants from fleeing. Gulan Forces managed to kill 130 ISIS terrorists during the battles.[8][9]

In 2017, during the Kirkuk crisis, Mansour's Gulan Forces claimed to have destroyed an Iraqi M1 Abrams tank near Zummar.[10]

In January 2024, VOA reported of a drone attack on the unit's base near Pirmam, Erbil. The attack was linked to Iran-backed Shiite militants.[11]

Strength

In 2016, the unit numbered 6,000 specially trained Peshmerga soldiers and around 200 military vehicles.[1]

Criticism

Pro-PKK media outlets, such as ANF News, alleged that the Turkish Armed Forces were deploying members of the Gulan Special Forces against PKK fighters in Metîna, Garê and the Qandil Mountains in the Kurdistan Region.[12][13] They also allege that the force had received "special training" by the Turkish private military contractor SADAT.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Kurdish president's son and grandson fight IS on front line, say 'ready to die'". Reuters Archive Licensing. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  2. ^ a b "Kurdish president's son and grandson fight IS on front line". The Jerusalem Post. 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  3. ^ "Peshmerga commander Mansour Barzani visits mother who lost 3 sons in ISIS attack". Kurdistan24. 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2025-09-16.
  4. ^ Evolution of US foreign policy in the Middle East (PDF). NSI. 12 October 2017. p. 19.
  5. ^ Aziz, Kamaran (2025-05-26). "President Barzani on 49th Anniversary: 'Gulan Revolution Affirmed Our Unbreakable Will'". Kurdistan24. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  6. ^ "ابن بارزاني: لن نرتاح قبل تحرير كل شبر أرض من داعش". العربية (in Arabic). 2014-12-18. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  7. ^ "Peshmerga operation reveals ISIS weakness, young militants fleeing battle". Rûdaw. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  8. ^ "In two-day battle Peshmerga capture important Gwer bridge, onwards to Mosul". Rûdaw.
  9. ^ "Peshmerga Command: 150 sq.km liberated, 130 ISIS killed". Rudaw. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  10. ^ "Peshmerga respond to, push back Iraqi militia attack near Zummar". Rudaw. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  11. ^ "In Major Escalation, Drones Target Key Kurdish Power Base Near Irbil". Voice of America. 2024-01-02. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  12. ^ "KDP deploys special forces with heavy weapons to Gare". ANF News. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  13. ^ "Name lists of the KDP's counter-guerrillas trained under the name of Iraqi Border Guard Units". ANF News. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  14. ^ "Turkish company SADAT trains South Kurdistan special forces". ANF News. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
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