The partisan activities of the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces were of several types and styles, depending on the geographical conditions and the situation of the Peshmerga forces. One type of activity was setting ambushes on roads and streets where the government's military and security forces traveled to carry out their assigned tasks. Part of these tasks were military campaigns against the Peshmerga and the villages and countryside of Kurdistan. Clearly, for the Peshmerga to confront these forces, setting an ambush was a suitable option. As indicated, many such Peshmerga activities can be observed, and they caused significant damage to the Iraqi forces.
A force of twenty Peshmerga, commanded by Zeravan, was on patrol in the Bamarni area of the Badinan region. On 11 February 1988, when they reached the village of Dehe, they held a meeting after a short rest. In that meeting, they discussed how to carry out a Peshmerga activity. They decided to set an ambush for the Ba'ath regime forces in a location. After a quick look, the area near the village of Barbanke on the road between Bamarni and Skrene was considered a suitable place. The goal of this activity was to inflict significant damage on the forces traveling on that road on one hand, and on the other hand, to prove the presence of the Peshmerga force in the area and instill more fear and anxiety into the ranks of the Ba'ath regime. The Peshmerga force went to Bamarni at night and stayed until 4 in the morning, then set off toward the ambush site. After traveling for 2 hours, near 6 in the morning of 12 February 1988, they reached the target location. They divided themselves into positions on the road with a solid plan and lay in wait for the arrival of the government forces so they could suddenly attack them and inflict damage, and to prove to the government forces that the revolution is strong and can strike them hard at any time and in any place.
After waiting for three hours for the arrival of the Iraqi Army forces, specifically at 9 in the morning, a vehicle of the Ba'ath security forces came along the road, and it contained 8 spies. The Peshmerga, who saw them from afar, prepared themselves and aimed their weapons at the military vehicle. As soon as it reached the ambush site, they rushed at them from all sides and opened fire. With Kalashnikovs, BKCs, and RPGs, they engaged in a continuous battle for 16 minutes without giving the government force a chance to even defend themselves; rather, they silenced them in that short time. Of those 8 spies, four were killed and the other four were captured, two of whom were wounded and the other two were unharmed. The activity ended in a short time. All their weapons were seized, which consisted of 7 Kalashnikovs and one RPG. Then, when the battle ended and the Peshmerga achieved victory and hit their target without suffering any losses, there was no benefit in the Peshmerga staying in that location. Instead, it was necessary to leave the place quickly and reach the liberated areas while transporting the captives and their spoils. They decided to withdraw and left the location.
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- Muhammad Murad, Khabata Chia, Memories and Stories of the Gulan Revolution between the years (176-1989), Kurdistan Printing House – Zakho, 2007.