The magazine of the art-form of the photo-essay
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Sept 2014 back issue
by Martin Alan Smith
The front line between the Islamic State (IS) and the Kurdish Military is a deceptively quiet hotbox of a place. The
shade of the guard bunkers along this line is the only refuge from the 47 degree sun, the IS snipers and intermittent
shelling. I expected the Peshmerga soldiers protecting Kurdistan from the marauding advance of the IS, previously
known as ISIS or ISIL, to be on edge, expectant of an attack at any moment. Instead they appeared very relaxed when
we met them. Even the report of sniper rounds and the pop of mortar shells firing from the nearby IS controlled farm
buildings didn’t seem to move them. They were more concerned with the visit from western photographers than the
mortal danger they faced every day while defending the front line South West of Kirkuk.
The area we visited was called Taza, it is under the control of the Kurdish military, known as the Peshmerga or
translated as ‘those who stand before death’. They appropriated the area after the Iraqi Army deserted their positions
faced with the advance of IS. This hardline group has allowed Kurdistan to swell it’s territory including Kirkuk,
considered the cultural capital of Kurdistan. They have enabled the Kurds to achieve a main goal toward their fight for
independence, the city of Kirkuk, something that seemed impossible before IS.
The Peshmerga later dealt with the sniper with an RPG strike but it would be impossible to tell that they deal with life
and death routinely when you see them swimming in the river or fishing for their dinner. There is a disconnection
between the peril they experience and the recognition of that danger in their faces or behaviour.
The General Commander of South Kirkuk, Rasal Omar, who is in charge of all the Peshmerga forces in the area
describes the situation to us. He is based in the South West of Kirkut in Iraq/Kurdistan in an area called Taza which is
the Bashir front line between the Kurdish military of the Peshmerga and the IS/ISIS/ISIL. The IS front line was bombed
this morning at 07.30 on the 24/07/14 by 7 air to ground missiles from the Iraqi Air Force. The area was abandoned by
the Iraqi military when IS first attacked, the Peshmerga seized the town of Kirkut and the military bases back from IS
on the 12th June 2014.
A Peshmerga rests and texts with his machine gun by his side in the South West of Kirkut in Iraq/Kurdistan in an area
called Taza which is the Bashir front line between the Kurdish military of the Peshmerga and the IS/ISIS/ISIL. In
charge of the main brigade of Peshmerga is Brigade Major Mariwan.
The feet of a sleeping soldier.
A Peshmerga Soldier patrolling at the front line.
The senior officers at the front line.
A Peshmerga soldier stands guard at the front line.
Peshmerga soldiers relax in their base in a farm building on the front line.
An AK47 in the lap of a Peshmerga soldier who is relaxing in his base in a farm building on the front line.
Peshmerga soldiers relax in their base in a farm building on the front line.
The Tea or Chai making facilities in the Peshmerga soldiers' base in a farm building on the front line.
Cooking at a Peshmerga camp at the front line.
Meal time for the Peshmerga soldiers.
The Peshmerga soldiers enjoy some fishing and swimming while stationed at the front line.
The soldiers stand guard with their machine guns.
Lunch is served.
Officers at the main Peshmerga Base in the South West of Kirkut.
Officers dressed in traditional Peshmerga clothing with their machine guns (M16 & AK47s) and no shoes.
A Peshmerga soldier washes his feet and hands in preparation for praying.
