Azmar is one of the high and famous mountains in Kurdistan. It is located northeast of the city of Sulaymaniyah and overlooks the entire region due to its towering elevation. Therefore, it is considered a geographically important site from a military perspective. High mountains are always sites for the steadfastness and defense of the Peshmerga Forces. In order to control the mountain heights, the Iraqi Army decided to attack and reach it. Although the Iraqi Army was in control inside the city of Sulaymaniyah, the Peshmerga Forces were in control of the heights of Mount Azmar, and the Iraqi Army could not move easily or perform its military tasks. Therefore, the army began its preparations for a military attack to take over the mountain.

At 5:30 AM on June 19, 1974, the Iraqi Army announced the start of its attack on the Peshmerga positions on Mount Azmar. Participating in this attack and the control of the mountain were the forces of the Fourth Brigade of the Second Division - Kirkuk, the Special Forces, the Eighth Brigade Tank Battalion, the Air Force, the Second Division Artillery, and the mercenary and traitor gunmen (Jash). As for the Peshmerga Forces that were on high alert, they included the Fourth Battalion (Penjwen) belonging to the Khabat forces, led by Nuri Hama Ali.

The government used all its military capabilities this time, including soldiers, weapons, tanks, long-range artillery, armored vehicles, and the Air Force, to launch its attack on the areas under the control of the revolution.

At the beginning of its attack, the Iraqi Army shelled Mount Azmar using artillery and the Air Force as a military ruse. The Peshmerga Forces were aware of this ruse in advance, so they fortified their positions well so as not to suffer losses. Although some Peshmerga members were wounded, the Peshmerga Forces were ready for them and defended with all bravery.

When the Iraqi Army Air Force was bombing the mountain and the Peshmerga positions, the Peshmerga air defense section shot down a helicopter using a DShK weapon, and this had a major impact on boosting the morale of the Peshmerga. After the bombing stopped, the Iraqi Army moved, as the tank battalion advanced on the infantry and Jash forces. The army's movements were limited due to the presence of anti-tank mines on the road, but the infantry and mercenary forces advanced in another place until they approached the Peshmerga positions and barricades. A fierce battle broke out between the two sides, and throughout that day, the Peshmerga were able to repel the attack with all courage and competence. Finally, the attack was thwarted. The corpses of the dead soldiers and Jash remained on the battlefield, and the army transported those corpses with tanks during the withdrawal.

 

The Iraqi Army failed to hit its target that day, and the next day, June 19, 1974, it resumed its large-scale attack. Like the previous day, it increased the intensity of the shelling and airstrikes even more. The army then raided the Peshmerga positions with a massive force and with the support and backing of the tank and armored battalion. After a bloody battle, the Iraqi Army suffered heavy losses in lives and military equipment, including the destruction of a number of tanks and artillery pieces. Therefore, the army was unable to advance and reach its goals as the commanding officers had hoped. However, the Iraqi Army's insistence on seizing Mount Azmar led to the referral of officers to investigation and military punishments, and planted fear and anxiety in the souls of others to defeat the Peshmerga. After great pressure, continuous attacks, and countless numbers of soldiers, heavy weapons, tanks, artillery, armored vehicles, and the Air Force, and despite the occurrence of great losses in soldiers, mercenaries, and traitors, and the Peshmerga Forces were not free of losses in lives from martyrs and wounded, the army was finally able to seize Mount Azmar.

Sources:

  1. Sangar Ibrahim Khoshnaw: Military Events of the Aylul Revolution 1970-1975, First Edition, Daneshfar Press, Erbil, 2022.

  2. Lieutenant Khadr Abdullah Dabbagh: My Memoirs and the Artillery of the Great Aylul Revolution, Roshinbiri Press, Third Edition, Erbil – 2020.

  3. Karwan Jawhar Muhammad: Idris Barzani 1944-1987 Life and Political and Military Role in the Kurdish Liberation Movement, Hevi Press, Erbil, 2019.

 Ibrahim Jalal: Southern Kurdistan and the Aylul Revolution: Foundation and Collapse, Fourth Edition, 2021.