On February 8, 1963, the Baathists and Arab nationalists seized power in Iraq through a military coup. From the very beginning of the coup, not only was there no mention of autonomy rights for the Kurds, but the Kurdish nation was not mentioned in any way in the political program or agenda. This was read as a dangerous sign and a threatening image for the future of the Kurds, because it was clear from the beginning that this was a military coup of revenge, not a change of a dictatorial system. Nevertheless, the leadership of the Kurdish revolution announced its congratulations and support for the coup leaders through a telegram. Although the war and military attacks on the Kurds were stopped for about three months and negotiations began, the Baathists did not come forward with the intention of resolving the problems, so the duration of the negotiations was not very long, but the Baathist wars and attacks on Kurdistan began.
On May 2, 1963, a general army order was issued to impose an economic blockade on Kurdistan. Then, not long after, specifically on June 1, 1963, the war started again. One of the battles we want to talk about here was the attack on the village of Bawakhoshin near Darbandikhan. After the Qaradagh Peshmerga force received news that the Iraqi Army had begun moving with the aim of occupying the aforementioned village, they immediately began preparations to confront the army's attack.
At 8:00 AM on August 4, 1963, the Iraqi Army launched its attack from Darbandikhan. Before the infantry attack began, it shelled the area heavily. It seems that the Peshmerga had prepared themselves in such a way as to prevent the army from reaching the village of Bawakhoshin and the village of Gulan. When the army's ground attack began, a fierce battle broke out between them. After two hours of fighting and clashes, the Iraqi Army was defeated in such a way that it was forced to retreat to the Darbandikhan military base. Despite the fact that it suffered heavy losses, the Peshmerga force had only two wounded.
Sources:1- Hoshang Salih Najjar, The Aylul Revolution in Iraqi Newspapers and Publications 1961 – 1976, Daneshfar Printing House, Erbil – 2023.
2- Hawkar Karim Hama Sharif, Aylul Revolution, Salahaddin University Printing House, First Edition, Erbil, 2012.
3- Masoud Barzani, Barzani and the Kurdish Liberation Movement, Volume Three, Part One, Aylul Revolution 1961-1975, Ministry of Culture Printing House, Ed: First, Erbil, 2004.
4- Khoshawi Ali Kaniye Lanji, Memoirs of Aziz Qadir Hamad Surchi, Daneshfar Printing House, First Edition, Erbil - 2023.