The battle of Ziwke village took place during the Gulan Revolution and on April 15, 1983, in the Badinan region between a Peshmerga force and a large force of the Iraqi Army. The Iraqi Army attacked Ziwke village in the Mangishke area with the intention of restoring the government's power and influence to the region. As the Iraqi Army was busy searching the village, a Peshmerga force that was on a Peshmerga mission in the area became aware of the attack and attacked them. After a battle of several hours and inflicting heavy losses in terms of killing and capturing a number of soldiers and an Officer, they were able to defeat the Iraqi Army force and expel them from the area.
The internal conflict in 1983 had preoccupied the political parties of Kurdistan in such a way that most of their forces were gathered from the battle axis in the Qandil area. Most of the Peshmerga forces had turned from the Badinan region toward the battle area. What remained were a few small forces, and most of the time they were on patrol to visit the revolution's organizations and carry out various Activities. It is clear that the Iraqi Army also saw this situation as an opportunity to impose the government's authority and influence over those areas where it had no authority, which were known as the liberated areas of the revolution. In that area, the Peshmerga force was dominant and the government's authority was weak, so it suddenly began military movements and attacks on those areas to sweep away the Peshmerga and take control of them.
On the morning of April 15, 1983, a large force of the Iraqi Army launched a surprise attack on the Mangishke area. In the darkness of the night, they surrounded Ziwke village, then descended into the alleys and began searching the village house by house. Some of the citizens who were in the ranks of the popular defense, upon realizing the army's attack, left the village. The government forces confronted them, fired at them from all sides, and a battle broke out between them. At that moment, a Peshmerga force led by Muhammad Murad was in the Mangishke area, numbering 15 people, and their only heavy weapon was one RPG and a 75mm cannon. Upon hearing the sound of gunfire, the Peshmerga force headed toward the site of the attack.
When the Peshmerga force reached near Ziwke village, they met with the popular defense group and were informed of the Iraqi Army force that had attacked the aforementioned village and was busy searching the houses. The Peshmerga force drew up a battle plan and divided into several points. They approached the government force and saw that they had taken up positions from Ziwke village to the Mangishke road. The Peshmerga force attacked the Iraqi Army force from all positions. The battle continued, and they carried out attack after attack. Suddenly, they brought the government forces into a situation they had not expected. The battle lasted from morning until 9 o'clock. The Peshmerga were able to confuse the Iraqi Army force and scatter them. Then, the Peshmerga, using loudspeakers, chanting slogans of 'Long live the revolution' and 'Long live the Peshmerga', and the ululations of the village residents, along with the sound of rifle fire, RPGs, and cannons, instilled fear and anxiety in the ranks of the army soldiers, broke their morale, and they fled the village. The Peshmerga followed them until they reached the Mangishke road and inflicted a major defeat on them.
In that attack, the Iraqi Army suffered heavy losses, with a number of soldiers killed and the bodies of dozens of others left on the battlefield, and an Officer with the rank of (Captain) was captured along with 15 soldiers with their weapons. Also, three (Racal) type communication radio devices were seized, which became spoils for the Peshmerga, in addition to seizing three 60mm cannons along with a large quantity of shells of the same type, more than 15 light weapons of the (Kalashnikov) type, one pistol, and a large amount of ammunition and military equipment fell into the hands of the Peshmerga.
After the government retreated its forces, as is its custom every time, 6 military helicopters arrived in the skies of the area. Very mercilessly and intensely, it bombarded the area until late in the evening. As a result, fire was set to the vineyards, gardens, and orchards of the residents. It is clear that this behavior of the Iraqi government existed in every battle and confrontation, and it did not spare the villages and countryside of Kurdistan in its shelling and aerial bombardment. In the meantime, the civilian population of the areas suffered great losses.
This attack by the Iraqi Army and its defeat at the hands of the Peshmerga force had consequences in many respects, such as the rise in the morale of the Peshmerga and the strengthening of the citizens' belief and trust in the bravery and resilience of the Peshmerga force. Also, for the government and military forces, it became completely clear that despite the countless force and support of weapons, ammunition, tanks, cannons, and aircraft, they would suffer a major defeat against the Peshmerga, who are a brave and fighting force that does not hesitate to protect the entire land of Kurdistan. In addition to having a great resonance in the region and its surroundings, this was one of the major defeats of the Iraqi Army within the borders of the 1st Branch of the Kurdistan Democratic Party.
This is what made President Masoud Barzani intervene and send his thanks and appreciation, as well as that of the Political Bureau, via a telegram to the Ranjbaran organization, and for the news to be broadcast on the Voice of Kurdistan of Iraq radio station. The broadcasting of the news demonstrates the fact that the media department of the revolution had experienced a kind of progress during that period. The level of work and Activities had covered a large and wide scope, and experienced and specialized cadres had gathered there. The state of the revolution's media was at an important level and advancing.
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 Stories of the Gulan Revolution between the years (1976-1989), Kurdistan Printing House – Zakho, 2007.
3- Sayid Kaka, Memoirs of a Peshmerga, Roshinbiri Printing House, First Edition, 1997.
4- Nuri Hama Ali, The History of the Struggle of a Peshmerga between Life and Death, Shahab Printing House, Erbil, Second Edition – 2016.