Zeravani
| Pêşmerge Zêrevanî | |
|---|---|
| زێرەڤانی Zêrevanî | |
Zêrevanî logo | |
| Active | 1997–2006 (as Kurdish forces)[1] 2006–present (Kurdistan Regional Government) |
| Country | Iraq |
| Allegiance | Kurdistan Regional Government |
| Branch | Peshmerga |
| Role | Gendarmerie |
| Size | 200,000 active 250,000 reservists[2][3] |
| Garrison/HQ | Zaxo |
| Nickname | Zerêvanî |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Lieutenant General Ezîz Weysî Banî |
| Notable commanders | Hana Peshang Miran |
The Zerevani[4] (Kurdish: زێرەڤانی, romanized: Zêrevanî, lit. 'Guard or Guardian') or Zeravani,[5] sometimes Zeravani Army[6] are a militarized force (described as a gendarmerie by some[5]) operated by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
History
The Zerevani were established in 1997 by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in order to support the Kurdish police and Asayish forces in providing security for the Kurdistan Region. The Zerevani's role expanded over the years to also ensure security for industrial property, electricity stations and water resources, as well as embassies, consulates, government offices and other sensitive targets.[6][7][1][8] They have also taken responsibility for security at Erbil International Airport.[9]
A Zerevani division led by Colonel Abu Rish fought against the Islamic State (ISIS) near Mosul during the summer of 2015.[10] In 2016 the Zeravani, according to Colonel Abdularrahman Hassan, still occupied frontline positions around Mosul.[11]
Organisational structure
The Zerevani are under the operational control of the KRG's Ministry of Interior[1][11] but are also sometimes considered to be part of the broader Peshmerga force.[6][7]
The first Commanding Chief of Zerevani was Faridun Jwanroyi. Jwanroyi resigned in 2010, which followed Aziz Waisi's appointment as the Major General of the Zerevani.[11]
According to Stratfor, in 2004, two Zêrevanî divisions (totaling 30,000 troops) were established in the Iraqi Federal Police.[12] In 2011, the Zerevani strength numbered 47,000 personnel,[1] while in 2017, Zerevani strength numbered 51,000 personnel.[13][14] Among them are several Christians of Kurdistan Region.[15]
Zerevani accepts recruits aged between 18 and 27. They need to provide an Iraqi national ID, be literate, have a clean record and a recommendation in terms of moral and loyalty issues.[1]
Women are allowed to, and also do, serve.[8]
Training
In November 2009, the Zêrevanî began training alongside the Iraqi Federal Police,[4] in order to conduct effective police work and counter-insurgency operations.[16] Since 2014, the Zeravani have undergone training with the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. For some time, much of the Zerevani training was conducted primarily by the Italian Carabinieri,[16] but also by Canadian,[11] British, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Finnish and Hungarian forces.[16][17]
Equipment
Because Zêrevanî forces were low on equipment when they began training, the Peshmerga army donated some of their weapons to the Zêrevanî. The Kurdistan Regional Government set them up a base and allowed them to buy their own weapons. The Zeravani unlike the Peshmerga are equipped with modern American, Russian and French arms and weapons. While the Peshmerga often use old Soviet and American weapons from the 60s.[18]
Issues
In June 2008, the Zêravanî were the subject of an Amnesty International campaign after the alleged kidnap of a Kurdish journalist.[7] According to Canadian website McLeans.ca, the Zêravanî are considered loyal to the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party;[11] according to Major General Aziz Waisi, all political activities are forbidden within the Zêravanî, although party membership is allowed.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Commander of the Zêrevanî Pêşmerge Forces, Maj. Gen. Aziz Waisi, sheds light on the role and future of Zeravani forces". Kurdish Globe. Free Online Library. June 25, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ Dortkardes, İhsan (July 20, 2007). "Barzani: Düzenli ordu yakında". Milliyet (in Kurdish). Retrieved June 6, 2008.
- ^ Willing to face Death: A History of Kurdish militia Forces – the Pêşmerge – from the Ottoman Empire to Present-Day Iraq Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Michael G. Lortz
- ^ a b "Kurdish Zêrevanî and Arab Policemen Graduate Training and Break Down Barriers". NATO Training Mission-Iraq. December 11, 2009. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ a b "A hint of harmony, at last". The Economist. December 3, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ a b c Khidhir, Qassim (February 27, 2007). "Zeravani Army is guardian of Kurdistan Region Capital". The Kurdish Globe. p. 16. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Document". Retrieved January 3, 2010.
- ^ a b "Le soldatesse italiane addestreranno le colleghe curde". Il Tempo (in Italian). May 30, 2016. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ Chapman, Dennis P. (2009). Security forces of the Kurdistan regional government (PDF).
- ^ "Cutting The Islamic State's Supply Lines: The Road To Mosul". VICE NewsGlobe. June 11, 2015. Archived from the original on May 15, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Khan, Adnan R. (May 5, 2016). "Inside the secret war in Iraq". Macleans.ca. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ "Special Series: Security in Iraq After the U.S. Withdrawal". Stratfor. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
- ^ "Over 150,000 enlisted as Pêşmerge troops in Kurdistan Region, official data shows". Rudaw. April 3, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ Bussoletti, Francesco (April 3, 2017). "Iraq, Isis deve combattere contro un esercito di oltre 150.000 Peshmerga". Difesa e Sicurezza (in Italian). Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ Lombardi, Daniela (December 15, 2016). "Croce e fucile, le armi dei cristiani iracheni contro il Daesh". Gli occhi della guerra (in Italian). Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ a b c Giuliani, Eleonora; Ames, Justin (March 27, 2017). "Mosul Needs 35,000 Cops". War is Boring. Archived from the original on October 7, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
- ^ "Kurdistan iracheno: addestramento degli Zeravani". www.difesa.it (in Italian). January 22, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ "Peshmerga forces train to counter IED threat". DVIDS. Retrieved June 23, 2024.