Peregraf
Former Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani hailed the inauguration of an alley named after the Peshmerga in Paris as a “historic day in the history of the Kurdish people,” highlighting both the sacrifices of Kurdish fighters and the enduring ties between Kurdistan and France.
The ceremony took place on Friday in the French capital’s Andre Citroen Park, where “Peshmerga Alley” was officially unveiled. Barzani, joined by Erbil Governor Omed Xoshnaw and a delegation from the Kurdistan Region, described the occasion as both a recognition of Kurdish resistance and a symbol of friendship between France and Kurdistan.
“The Peshmerga carry out a sacred duty,” Barzani said in his remarks. “Today’s commemoration is a crowning of the Peshmerga’s struggle and a crowning of the relations between the peoples of Kurdistan and France.”
France has played an important role in supporting Kurdish forces, especially during the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS). As a core member of the U.S.-led Global Coalition against ISIS, France has trained nearly 10,000 Iraqi soldiers, including large numbers of Kurdish Peshmerga fighters. French military forces remain engaged in counter-terrorism operations in Iraq and Syria, contributing to regional stability and security.
The honor comes as the Kurdistan Region continues to seek stronger international recognition of the Peshmerga’s role in defeating ISIS. Despite internal divisions and ongoing reform struggles within the Kurdish forces, they remain a key partner for Western allies in counterterrorism efforts. Peregraf’s recent reporting has shown that efforts to unify the Peshmerga under a national chain of command have been slow, hampered by partisan rivalries between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
The naming of “Peshmerga Alley” in Paris reflects not only military cooperation but also the broader political and cultural solidarity between France and the Kurdish people. France has long maintained close ties with Kurdish leaders, often voicing support for Kurdish rights and autonomy within Iraq.
For Barzani and other Kurdish officials, Friday’s event was more than a symbolic gesture. It underscored international acknowledgment of the Kurdish struggle for survival and freedom, while also reinforcing the importance of strategic alliances at a time when Kurdish politics remain deeply divided at home.