Due to the continuous activities of the Peshmerga, the military, armed, and security forces of the Ba'ath regime were always in a state of distress. If we take only the month of April 1986 as an example, dozens of activities were carried out in it, causing heavy human and material losses to the government forces. This was a successful plan of the revolution, as partisan struggle expresses the continuity of activities, putting pressure on the opposing side, and instilling fear in their ranks. Based on this continuity, the Zakho District Committee of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in January 1986 invited the committee members and the heads of the organizations to carry out an activity in that month with the aim of striking a blow to the Ba'ath regime forces, given that during that period the Peshmerga force was organized within the framework of party organization as branches, districts, and organizations. 

 The activity began with the formation of a detachment of 10-15 Peshmerga and several Peshmerga experienced in mine clearance to clear the attack route of mines, because the Iraqi Army had mined the surroundings to protect the Rabayas. The activity began, and that Peshmerga force was tasked with patrolling from the Guli area to Batifa with the intention of identifying and gathering information about the government forces' bases in order to attack them. The Peshmerga force began moving through the villages and rural areas of the region on 16 January 1986. They gathered a set of information, including that there were two mercenary (Jash) Rabayas above the Zreze bends, where at night they would vacate one of the Rabayas and all gather in one Rabaya, and during the day they would return to their places. That was a suitable place to carry out the activity. The Peshmerga went to the Rabaya they had vacated, then approached the other Rabaya called Shkera. (30 - 40) they did not find any mines, even though the top of the hill was covered in snow. They identified all the points for attacking the Rabaya, then returned and sent word to the Peshmerga force that the preparations had been made and it was time to act. 

 The organizations participating in that activity were: the (Martyr Muhammad Salih, Martyr Muhammad Mahmud, Martyr Maho Gawda, Shingar) organizations along with a detachment affiliated with the Zakho District Committee. The attack plan was set such that the supervision of the activity was entrusted to Saeed Bosali Spindari, and Osman Qasim was the head of the attack. Five points were identified to be hit with (RPG) and each side was to hit the Rabaya from its own side. Zero hour was set for 12:30 minutes for the first campaign to take place. 20 to 30 Peshmerga were prepared under the supervision of Abu Bro to be stationed with an 57mm mortar in the vacated Rabaya as a support force, so that if any problem arose during the attack, they would support the attack from there. Another force of 10 to 15 Peshmerga was prepared in a place to prevent any force affiliated with the Iraqi Army if they intended to attack the activity site. 

 On 19 January 1986, the Peshmerga force began moving to carry out the assigned task. The work proceeded as planned. Before the appointed time, all the Peshmerga reached their positions and were waiting for the order. At 12:30 minutes, Osman Qasim, the head of the activity, ordered the (RPG) teams to start acting. From all five points, the fire of the (RPG)s turned the dark night into bright day. For a period of (20 - 30) minutes, the fighting continued in that manner, but the resistance of the Rabaya was gradually weakening. Then the second phase of the attack began, where a group of Peshmerga reached near the wall of the Rabaya. After them, another group reached below the wall of the Rabaya in the same way. They attacked with grenades and their hand weapons until the resistance in the Rabaya completely ceased. Those who were killed were killed, and the others fled from the northern side and left the Rabaya. The Peshmerga entered the Rabaya and seized it and fired several shots into the air, which was a sign of victory. Then they collected the equipment and set it on fire. 

 After finishing their important work and collecting the spoils, which were 5 Kalashnikov rifles, one (RPG), one wireless device, 3 boxes of Kalashnikov ammunition, 30 hand grenades, and 50 Kalashnikov magazines, they decided to withdraw and left the place. It is worth mentioning that in that activity, the Peshmerga force did not suffer any losses. As for the losses of the mercenary gunmen, in addition to the spoils that were mentioned, two of their bodies fell into the hands of the Peshmerga force at the Rabaya. 

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 Events of the Gulan Revolution between the years (176-1989), Kurdistan Printing House – Zakho, 2007. 

  3. Ghazi Adil Gardi, A Peshmerga in the Service of the Barzani Path, Haji Birokhi, Volume Two, Second Edition, Turkey - 2021.