On the night of November 11 to 12, 1986, the Iraqi Army began its attacks and assaults towards the areas around Zakho, supported by artillery and warplanes, where the headquarters of the Zakho District Committee of the Kurdistan Democratic Party was located. The military campaign of the army and the government's armed forces covered the Dalla heights. Because of this, the connection of the Zakho District Committee and the Peshmerga force of that area with other areas was cut off. To report the news of this government attack, the Duhok District Committee contacted the revolution leadership that there was a fierce battle on the border of both Duhok and Zakho districts. The warplanes were heavily bombing the Peshmerga positions. Due to this aerial bombardment in the village of Kani Pung, an elderly person named Haji Nabi was a Martyr, along with the wounding of four women and children. Also, in the village of Zewe near the headquarters of the First Branch of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the aerial bombardment continued, and there another elderly man was a Martyr([1]).

It is clear that the Iraqi government's purpose in its attacks and assaults on the headquarters and positions of the Peshmerga in the Badinan region was to silence the voice and presence of the revolution in the face of those activities and attacks that were constantly confronting government forces in different areas in a guerrilla manner, by hitting guard posts, military bases, and headquarters, and setting up ambushes on the roads. Undoubtedly, this caused great human and material losses to the Iraqi military forces on one hand, and on the other hand, it had put the government in a dangerous situation where it could not constantly enjoy peace([2]). Because the branch, district committee, organizations, and Peshmerga forces were distributed over the areas in such a way that each was demonstrating activity within their location and border of authority([3]).       

The attacks and assaults of the army and the government's armed forces on the headquarters and positions of the Peshmerga continued for several days on the border of both Duhok and Zakho districts. On October 13, 1986, the Duhok District of the revolution announced that the intense and heavy pressure and assaults of the government had reached the Zakho area and it had taken control of the district headquarters, and the planes were continuing to bomb the region. It is worth mentioning that the resistance of the Peshmerga force and taking positions in front of the government forces, especially the mercenary gunmen (Jash), caused the defeat of their advances and assaults at four o'clock in the evening on October 14, 1986([4]).    

  These attacks and assaults of the Iraqi army and armed forces on the areas of the revolution demonstrate the fact that the government was always trying to extend its power and authority to all areas of Kurdistan, to silence the revolution in all regions, and to disrupt their activities.  

 Sources:
  1. Masoud Barzani, Barzani and the Kurdish Liberation Movement, Volume Four, 1975-1990 Gulan Revolution, Part Two, First Edition, Roxana Printing House, 2021.
  2. Shimal Zebari, Some Hidden Truths in the Gulan Revolution, First Edition, Rojhalat Printing House, Erbil – 2015.
  3. Haji Mirhan Dolamari, In Search of Justice, Volume One, Second Edition, Kurdistan – 2021.  

 

 

[1] - Masoud Barzani, Barzani and the Kurdish Liberation Movement, Volume Four, 1975-1990 Gulan Revolution, Part Two, First Edition, Roxana Printing House, 2021, p. 63.

[2] - Shimal Zebari, Some Hidden Truths in the Gulan Revolution, First Edition, Rojhalat Printing House, Erbil – 2015, p. 345.  

[3] - Haji Mirhan Dolamari, In Search of Justice, Volume One, Second Edition, Kurdistan, 2021, p. 251.

[4] - Masoud Barzani, same source, p. 64.