Gulan Special Forces
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| Gulan Special Forces | |
|---|---|
| Hezê Gulan | |
| Active | 2014–present |
| Country |  Iraq |
| Allegiance |  Kurdistan Regional Government  KDP |
| Branch | Peshmerga |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Role | Special Operations |
| Size | 6,000 (2016) |
| Garrison/HQ | Pirmam, Erbil |
| Nickname | Peshmerga Special Forces |
| Colors | Red & Golden yellow |
| Commanders | |
| Current Commander | Mansour 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]
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.[citation needed] 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]
