Kani Mase is a town belonging to the Barwari Bala area of the Amadiya district in the Duhok governorate. It is located on the Zakho-Serzeri road - the residents of the town consist of Muslims and Christians. ([1]) Kani Mase has also played an active role in the field of revolution and resistance, like all other regions of Kurdistan, in organizing activities and recording historical epics of defending freedom and democracy.

One of the epics that was recorded by the Peshmerga forces in the region and which we want to talk about is the Epic of Kani Mase, which was carried out under the direct supervision of President Masoud Barzani and under the leadership of Dr. Roj Nuri Shaways The reason for this epic was that the Iraqi government or the leaders of the Ba'ath Party, who had forcibly seized power in this country, had spread weak propaganda about the Kurdish revolution among the people of Kurdistan, especially in the Badinan region. They showed the people that the power of the revolution no longer existed to confront the military forces of the Ba'ath and continue its Peshmerga activities.

In order to reject the position of the Ba'ath government, the leadership of the revolution decided on a major military operation, to assure the Ba'ath government that the Peshmerga Forces can record great epics at any time and wherever they want and inflict heavy losses on the military and security institutions and forces of the Ba'ath. Furthermore, it had to reassure the public that the revolution is ongoing and that what the Iraqi government has done is only propaganda and baseless statements. ([2])

This epic of the Peshmerga Force of Kurdistan in the Badinan region, on the border of Branch (1) of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), was carried out by the committees of Amadiya, Zakho, Shekhan, and the National Defense Force. On the night of September 13-14, 1987, according to a solid and advanced military plan, they attacked the military bases and headquarters of the government on several fronts in the Kani Mase area ([3]). After a fierce and bloody battle, they were able to capture all the military points they had attacked in a short time.

In this operation, the Peshmerga forces captured more than 5 bases of the regime's forces and an area of 70 square kilometers. As a result, the Iraqi forces suffered heavy blows, and it is estimated that more than 100 soldiers were killed and wounded, and a number of other soldiers were captured by the Peshmerga. Also, a number of military vehicles were destroyed, and many weapons and ammunition fell into the hands of the Peshmerga forces. In this Peshmerga operation and in the recording of this epic, 7 Peshmerga and 2 members of the national defense were martyred ([4]).

The Epic of Kani Mase is considered one of the victories of the Gulan Revolution because in terms of size, power, weapons, and military technology of that time, it was at the level of a war between two countries, where there was no balance between the Peshmerga forces and the army in any way. However, what changed the balance of power was the power of belief and the struggle for freedom and the defense of a nation's rights. After the victory of the Peshmerga in the epic, Masoud Barzani congratulated and thanked all the Peshmerga and participants in the battle ([5]).

At the end of the epic, it became clear that the Peshmerga forces were able to carry out historical activities and record historical epics at any time and place, even in the depths of the government's power, and strike a heavy blow to the enemy and cause great damage.

Source:

  1. Masoud Barzani, Barzani and the Kurdish Liberation Movement, Volume 4, 1975-1990 Gulan Revolution, Part 2, 1st Edition, Ruksana Press, 2021.

  2. Kani Mase https://ckb.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 

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

 

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

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

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

[4] - Masoud Barzani, Barzani and the Kurdish Liberation Movement, Volume 4, 1975-1990 Gulan Revolution, Part 2, 1st Edition, Ruksana Press, 2021, p. 71.

[5] - Masoud Barzani, same source, p. 72.