Mansour Barzani
Mansour Barzani | |
|---|---|
 Front row, from right to left, Mansour Barzani, Bahjat Selki, and Serdar Doski. | |
| Native name | مەنسوور بارزانی |
| Born | June 19, 1978 |
| Allegiance |  Kurdistan Democratic Party |
| Service | Peshmerga |
| Years of service | 2003–present |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | Special Forces (Gulan Forces) |
| Commands | Commander of the 1st Special Forces, Commander of Gulan Forces |
| Known for | Leading Peshmerga forces in operations against ISIS |
| Battles / wars |
|
Mansour Barzani (Kurdish: مەنسوور بارزانی, romanized: Mensûr Barzanî, born June 1978) is the son of former Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani and the younger brother of Masrour Barzani. He is the Liwa of the First Special Forces Division and of Gulan Special Forces (Kurdish: هێزا تایبەتا گوڵان, romanized: Hêza Taybeta Gułan).
Early life
Mansour Barzani was born in June 1978 into the prominent Barzani family, as the son of Masoud Barzani. He has one older brother, Masrour, and three younger siblings: Waysi, Babo, and Muksi.[1][2] He also has three sisters.[3]
Career
Mansour Barzani has been part of the Peshmerga since at least 2003. He was injured in a US-friendly fire incident in which 18 Peshmerga fighters were killed.[4]
Around the time of the creation of ISIS, Mansour was given command of a Special Forces division. On the 14th of August 2016, he fought against ISIS and liberated Kaka'i and Shabaki Kurdish-majority areas from ISIS control.[5][6] In December 2014, he led the Peshmerga's advance toward Mosul and the Mosul Dam.[7][8] From the 16th of August 2016 to the 18th of August 2016, Mansour ordered an offensive that freed three more villages from ISIS. During the offensive, Peshmerga were instructed to prevent the militants from fleeing. In the battle, Peshmerga killed 130 ISIS militants.[9]
In March 2016, he led a protest against the Gorran Movement's anti-patriotic rhetoric.[10] He also held another protest in 2018 against the central Iraqi Government's closure of the Rabia road.[11]
He has been a vocal critic of the United States's inadequate support for the Peshmerga.[12]
On the 5th of May, 2018, he spoke out against the Kurdish factions in Baghdad who'd been "slandering" the Peshmerga.[13]
On the 21st of March, 2024, he worked with Duhok's governor, Ali Tatar. To provide 117 apartments and compensation for those affected by the flooding situation in Duhok and Zaxo.[14][15][16]
During the 2024 Kurdistan Region parliamentary election, he led the KDP's list and campaign in Duhok.[17]
References
- ^ Rubin, Michael (March 1, 2023). "When Massoud Barzani dies, what's next for Iraqi Kurdistan?". The Insight Journal.
- ^ "Breaking Point? How the Barzani Family Power Struggle Could Unfold After Kurdistan's Election | The Washington Institute". www.washingtoninstitute.org. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
- ^ "Masoud Barzani Biography". The official website of Masoud Barzani.
- ^ "US 'friendly fire' kills 18 in Kurdish convoy". Times of Malta. 2003-04-07. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
- ^ "Peshmerga operation reveals ISIS weakness, young militants fleeing battle". Rûdaw.
- ^ "Reuters Archive Licensing". Reuters Archive Licensing. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
- ^ "ابن بارزاني: لن نرتاح قبل تحرير كل شبر أرض من داعش". العربية (in Arabic). 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2024-12-27.
- ^ admin (2014-08-21). "Large IS terrorist units on the way to Shingal – Shesho: "We will receive them appropriately" | ÊzîdîPress - English". Retrieved 2024-12-31.
- ^ "In two-day battle Peshmerga capture important Gwer bridge, onwards to Mosul". Rûdaw.
- ^ «الحياة», أربيل - (2016-12-10). "نجل بارزاني يقود تظاهرة لـ «بيشمركة»". Hayat. Archived from the original on 2019-04-12. Retrieved 2024-12-27.
- ^ Kurdistan24 (2018-05-05). "Peshmerga commander blames Iraq for keeping Zumar – Rabia road closed". Peshmerga commander blames Iraq for keeping Zumar – Rabia road closed. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Reuters Archive Licensing". Reuters Archive Licensing. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
- ^ "مهنسوور بارزانی: ئهوانهی تۆمهت بۆ پێشمهرگه درووستدهكهن كوردنین" [Mansour Barzani: Those who slander the Peshmerga are not Kurds.]. Xwakurk (in Central Kurdish).
- ^ "Mansour Barzani: All those affected by the floods in Duhok will be compensated within a short time". Arknews.
- ^ Kurdistan24 (2024-04-26). "Floods caused extensive damage to ponds, dams in Duhok, repair efforts underway". Floods caused extensive damage to ponds, dams in Duhok, repair efforts underway. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Kurdistan24 (2024-03-23). "410 affected families from Zakho flash flood received compensation, says top official". 410 affected families from Zakho flash flood received compensation, says top official. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "🔻Mansour Barzani is the leader of the KDP list in Duhok". drawmedia.net. Retrieved 2024-12-27.