diff --git a/trigger-gitlab-pipeline.sh b/trigger-gitlab-pipeline.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..e757e69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/trigger-gitlab-pipeline.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Trigger GitLab CI pipeline for AeThex-OS ISO build
+# Usage: ./trigger-gitlab-pipeline.sh [branch] [token]
+# Defaults: branch=main, token=$GITLAB_TOKEN
+
+BRANCH="${1:-main}"
+TOKEN="${2:-${GITLAB_TOKEN:-}}"
+
+if [ -z "$TOKEN" ]; then
+  echo "❌ GITLAB_TOKEN not set and no token provided as argument."
+  echo "Usage: $0 [branch] [token]"
+  echo "Or export GITLAB_TOKEN=your_token_here"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+PROJECT_ID="MrPiglr%2FAeThex-OS"  # URL-encoded namespace/project
+GITLAB_URL="https://gitlab.com/api/v4"
+
+echo "🚀 Triggering GitLab pipeline on branch: $BRANCH"
+
+RESPONSE=$(curl -s -X POST \
+  "${GITLAB_URL}/projects/${PROJECT_ID}/pipeline" \
+  -H "PRIVATE-TOKEN: $TOKEN" \
+  -d "ref=${BRANCH}")
+
+echo "$RESPONSE" | jq . || echo "$RESPONSE"
+
+PIPELINE_ID=$(echo "$RESPONSE" | jq -r '.id // empty')
+if [ -n "$PIPELINE_ID" ]; then
+  echo "✅ Pipeline #$PIPELINE_ID created"
+  echo "📊 View at: https://gitlab.com/MrPiglr/AeThex-OS/-/pipelines/$PIPELINE_ID"
+else
+  echo "⚠️ No pipeline ID returned; check your token and project access."
+fi