Kosrat Rasul Ali

Early life

He was born in 1952 as Abdulla Rasul in the oil-rich village of Shiwashok near the city of Koya which is in the province of Erbil. His father was Rasul Ali, who worked for the oil company near the village. The family was well known in the area.

Peshmerga

Kosrat has reputation for ferocity in a country where everyone considers himself a fighter, Kosrat's body is a roadmap of scars

In 1975, Kosrat joined the Kurdistan Democratic Party and participated in the September Revolution led by Mullah Mustafa Barzani. At the end of 1975, he joined Komala and took over supervision of student activities. He founded the Kurdistan Students Group in Kirkuk with a number of his colleagues in 1976. Kosrat was arrested in 1977 by Baath Party security services in Kirkuk for organizing political activities, and was released the same year. After his release from prison, he rejoined Peshmerga fighters. In 1981, Kosrat became a politburo member of the Komala party and director of its secret branches. Kosrat assumed leadership roles in the PUK, taking control in 1984-5 of the party's Third and Fourth Centers. Kosrat is known as the strongman of Erbil city and its surroundings he has a reputation for bravery

During the 1991 Kurdistan March Uprisings, he served as a prominent Peshmerga commander, responsible for liberating the cities of Erbil and Kirkuk. In Hawler the people had attempted to liberate the city but were unsuccessful. Alongside the Pesharmga the people of Hawler managed to liberate the city on 11 March and Kosrat was the first commander to enter. He walked from the city citadel to the governors office alongside the people, Kosrat, as a native of Erbil, enjoyed huge support within the city and is described as being charismatic figure

As a Peshmerga commander, he led an assault on al-Qaeda-linked Ansar al-Islam forces in 2003, dislodging the group from its stronghold.

Under the leadership of Kosrat, Kurdish forces launched a large-scale military operation to further push back ISIS and eliminate threats on the city of Kirkuk and its oilfields. he states what has been conquered with Kurdish blood shall remain Kurdish soil.

Former director of International Crisis Group Joost Hiltermann describes Kosrat as vigorous, razor sharp and articulate, and holds a commanding presence despite his ailment which derives from shrapnel lodged in his body.

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan

Kosrat is the first deputy Secretary General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and currently acting secretary general performing the duties of Jalal Talabani, he is recognised as the most senior leader in the PUK and chairs all politburo and leadership council meetings.

Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament

In 1992 elected as Member of Kurdistan Parliament

Kurdistan Regional Government

Kosrat held the post of prime minister from 1993 to 2001, in the second cabinet (1993-1996) and third cabinet (1996-2001). he was succeeded by Barham Salih in 2001. The U.S. state department in a Wikileaks cable describes his tenure as Prime Minister as largely well regarded as a populist leader.

Kurdistan Presidency Council

Kosrat has held the post of Vice President twice 2005 to 2009 and 2009 to present. As vice president he is deputy commander in chief of the Peshmerga. He has called on Turkey to return to peace talks Kosrat has long reiterated the need to forge a single Kurdish army Kosrat has said that Kurds can accomplish their goals if they are united and Kurdish independence is not a dream

PUK Gorran Agreement

The 25-point agreement aimed at coordination on strategic issues between the two parties was signed by the PUK’s Kosrat Rasul Ali and Gorran’s Nawshirwan Mustafa, with all other senior party leaders present.

Personal life

In retaliation for his role as leader of the Peshmerga in the Erbil province, Saddam's Baathist regime killed two of his sons in an airstrike in 1987 they were aged 9 and 10. Kosrat's two surviving sons are prominent military and political figures, his first son Shalaw is a member of the joint PUK and Gorran council which is the most senior leadership body of both parties and he also has a military background and was wounded in the battle to retake Mosul in 2016, where 5 accompanying Peshmerga were killed. Kosrat's second son Darbaz is Minister of Housing and Reconstruction in the eighth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government. Kosrat was seriously injured in fighting in 1985, and continues to suffer from wounds to his neck.