Today I visited the German army a second time in the Zeravani compound east of Erbil to do an update about the training they do for the Peshmerga. I visited them the first time last year around this month.
The German army press spokesperson says that they have stepped up the limit of German forces a little bit to 150 soldiers, but that at the same time there is no need for any more soldiers. Other forces contributing training and advising to Barzani’s Peshmergas are Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Italy.
To my surprise, the battalion that is currently being trained, is fully equipped with US-made M16 rifles. The US government has donated weapons, uniforms, helmets, other military equipment and ammunition for two Kurdish battalions, meaning 2000 soldiers.
