The Iraqi government, which imposed war on Kurdistan in 1974, began its attacks on the areas under the revolution with all its might, using a massive army consisting of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, hundreds of modern-style tanks, and various types of anti-aircraft weapons, alongside aircraft, with the goal of ending and suppressing the revolution.

It seems that the high mountains were always sites of steadfastness and resistance in all revolutions and uprisings, relied upon by the Peshmerga Forces. The Iraqi Army wanted, first and foremost, to seize those heights to break the defensive lines of the Peshmerga, including the mountains of Kiuresh, Makok, and Karokh, so that it could easily control the low-lying areas of plains and flat lands. The Iraqi regime relied in its war plans on the months of August and September to launch its attacks on the revolution areas, so that it could control strategic areas before the arrival of the winter and cold season.

Although the Iraqi Army suffered heavy losses in its attacks on Peshmerga positions, it continued to launch its attacks with the support and backing of the air force, military specialists from the Soviet Union, and armed mercenaries (Jash). When the army managed to advance towards Mount Kiuresh and seize it, the First Infantry Brigade and the (12th) Armored Brigade, supported by the (3rd) Tank Battalion, began their advance towards Gali Sangasar, which is located at the front of Mount Asos on the right side and the front of Mount Kiuresh on the left side, and through which the Rania-Qaladiza road passes.

Facing these massive forces of the Iraqi Army that were advancing to occupy the city of Qaladiza, the Kawa Force battalion and the Asos battalion were waiting for them and were on high alert in Gali Sangasar, the only site from which the Peshmerga could resist and place obstacles in front of the army's advance so that it would not reach Qaladiza, by planting anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, destroying roads, and placing large rocks on them. The army continued its attack and did not stop, and the Peshmerga were in a state of resistance, and violent confrontations and clashes occurred between the two sides and lasted for ten days. Although the Iraqi Army suffered heavy losses in lives and equipment, it insisted on reaching the city of Qaladiza. Martyrs and wounded also fell in the ranks of the Peshmerga, and finally, the Iraqi Army was able on August 19, 1974, to enter the city of Qaladiza and take control of it.

It seems that with the occupation of Qaladiza by the Iraqi Army, the Peshmerga did not rest, but continued its military activities, as it launched an attack on September 3 on a camp belonging to the Iraqi Army in Tosuran on the Rania-Qaladiza road. They began the attack by shelling the camp, then raided the military sites and bases and were able to inflict heavy losses on the army forces. The Peshmerga almost completely controlled the camp, but they retreated from their plans due to the martyrdom of the Peshmerga commander Ezzedine Qara Muhammad. 

   

   

Sources:  

  1.   Masoud Barzani: Barzani and the Kurdish Liberation Movement, Volume Three, Part Two, Aylul Revolution 1961-1975, First Edition – Erbil, 2004.

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

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

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

  5. Ibrahim Jalal: Southern Kurdistan and the Aylul Revolution, Building and Collapse, 1961-1975. Fourth Edition, 2021.