Reshave Valley is located in the Amêdî and Dêrelok districts of the Behdînan region. Due to its geographical location and the people's love for the Peshmerga Forces, carrying out partisan activities was easier. Therefore, in terms of revolution and resistance, like all other parts of Kurdistan, they played an influential role in supporting the revolution. The Iraqi government often launched major campaigns against Kurdistan in specific areas to reclaim districts that had fallen into the hands of the Peshmerga and, in general, to silence the voice of the revolution. It fought the revolutionary forces with all its armed forces. Because the movement and activities of the Peshmerga had increased in most areas, in early January 1987, the Iraqi army and other armed forces carried out a major attack against Etroş and Kela Kanîka in Behdînan, which lasted for nearly 20 days, under the pretext that these areas were under the control of the Peshmerga Forces.

The Kurdistan Peshmerga Forces, with the military power at their disposal in terms of the number of Peshmerga, weapons, and ammunition, fought the government forces and dealt them fatal blows. It is clear, as has been said, that in early January 1987, the government launched a major military operation in the Atrosh area. In other areas, too, Peshmerga forces blocked military convoys and carried out various activities to reduce the pressure of the army and the government's armed forces on the battlefronts.

On the evening of 11 January 1987 around 16.00, the sound of gunfire was heard frequently in the village of Reshave. The Peshmerga Forces blocked the main Amêdî–Dêrelok roads and targeted military convoys that were on the road heading toward the battlefront. They also attacked the Dêrelok battalion headquarters, the Ba'ath Party center, and the town's security headquarters. It is clear that the Peshmerga forces' attack against the Iraqi forces caused them great damage, as the regiment headquarters, the Ba'ath Party base, and the security base were burned. Furthermore, one 82 mm cannon, 2 tank, an armored vehicle, and a military vehicle were destroyed.

It is worth noting that the activities of the Peshmerga were widely spread in most districts of Kurdistan, which caused the government to face discomfort, as it was constantly thinking about military operations to remove the threat to its institutions.

Source:

  1. Masoud Barzani: Barzani and the Kurdish Liberation Movement, Volume 4, 1975-1990 Gulan Revolution, Part 2, First Edition, Ruxana Printing House, 2021.

  2. Shimal Zebari: Some hidden facts in Gulan Revolution , first edition, Rojhelat printing house, Erbil –2015.