Kani Masi is one of the sub-districts of the Upper Barwari region in the Amadiya district, affiliated with the Duhok Governorate. It is located on the Zakho - Sarzeri road. The inhabitants of the town consist of Muslims and Christians([1]). It is clear that in terms of revolution and resistance, like all other regions of Kurdistan, Kani Masi had active participation and a significant role in demonstrating activities and recording historical epics to defend freedom and democracy.

One of the epics that was recorded in that region at the hands of the Peshmerga forces and which we want to talk about is the Kani Masi Epic, which was conducted under the direct supervision of President Masoud Barzani  and under the command of Dr. Roj Nuri Shaways , the reason for the occurrence of the epic goes back to when the Iraqi government, or let us say the leaders of the Ba'ath Party who had seized power over the governance of that Country by force, spread propaganda about the weakness of the Kurdish revolution among the people of Kurdistan, especially in the Badinan region. They showed the inhabitants that the revolution no longer had the strength and ability to confront the Ba'ath military forces and continue its Peshmerga activities.

Of course, to reject this stance of the Ba'ath government, the leadership of the revolution decided to carry out a major military operation to prove to the Ba'ath government that the Peshmerga forces, whenever they intend and wherever they are, record great epics and inflict heavy losses on the institutions and military and security forces of the Ba'ath. Also, to confirm to the public opinion that the revolution is continuing and what the Iraqi government has done is only propaganda and baseless words([2]).

That epic of the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces in the Badinan region, within the border of Branch (1) of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, was carried out by the local committees of Amadiya, Zakho, Sheikhan, and the National Defense Force. They attacked the bases and headquarters of the government's military forces from several axes in the Kani Masi area([3]), on the night of September 13-14, 1987, according to a solid and advanced military program and plan, after a fierce and bloody battle, they were able to take control of all the military points they attacked in a short time.

In that operation, the Peshmerga forces were able to take control of more than five battalion headquarters and seventy square kilometers of area. As a result, heavy losses were inflicted on the Iraqi forces in terms of killed and wounded, which was estimated at over one hundred soldiers. At the same time, a number of other soldiers were captured by the Peshmerga. In addition to that, a number of military vehicles were destroyed and a lot of weapons and ammunition fell into the hands of the Peshmerga forces. In that Peshmerga operation and the recording of that epic, seven Peshmerga and two members of the National Defense were martyred([4]). 

The Kani Masi Epic is considered one of the glories of the Gulan Revolution , because it was an epic on the level of a war between two countries, and in terms of size, force, weapons, and modern military technology, there was no balance at all between the Peshmerga forces and the army. However, what changed the balance of power was the power of belief and the struggle for the sake of freedom and defending the rights of a nation. After the success of the Peshmerga in that epic, Masoud Barzani sent congratulations and appreciation to all the Peshmerga and participants of the epic([5]).

At the end of that epic, it became clear that the Peshmerga forces, in carrying out activities and recording historical epics at any time and place they intend, even in the depths of the government's power, carry out activities and strike heavy blows at their enemy and inflict heavy losses on them.                     

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. Kani Masi https://ckb.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 
  3. Kani Masi Epic =https://www.google.com/search?q
  4. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2949199035158069

[1] - Kani Masi https://ckb.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 

[2] - Kani Masi Epic =https://www.google.com/search?q

[3] - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2949199035158069

[4] - Masoud Barzani، Barzani and the Kurdish Liberation Movement, Volume Four, 1975-1990 Gulan Revolution, Part Two, First Edition, Roxana Printing House, 2021, p.71.

[5] - Masoud Barzani، Same source, p. 72