In 1943, when Mullah Mustafa Barzani returned from Sulaymaniyah to the Barzan area, he established contact with the revolutionary forces and took up arms. Because of his ability, courage, and love of freedom, he was appointed serqol. He took part in the battle of the village of Bestir at the foot of Mount Piran in Mergasor District, the Battle of Meydan Morik, and battles in the Bile and Barzan areas and Mount Piris in Aqrah District.
On 11 October 1945, after the defeat of the Second Barzan Revolution, he went with his family to East Kurdistan. On 31 March 1946, he became a Peshmerga in the Barzan Force affiliated with the Army of the Kurdistan Democratic Republic in Mahabad. He took part in the battles on the Saqqiz front, especially the famous Battle of Qaraweya at Seruchawa. On 2 February 1947, after the republic fell, he was seriously wounded in his right leg during the Battle of Nelos and also lost his left eye. Because of the severity of his wounds, he could not go with Barzani and his companions to the Soviet Union. Therefore, he returned with Sheikh Ahmed Barzani and his family to South Kurdistan. Since he was disabled, he was not arrested by the Iraqi Government. After recovering from his wounds, he went to the Bradost mountain range, where he remained until 1958 and lived clandestinely. He went to the villages in the area to obtain food and provisions; the villagers helped him and brought him food. In winter, he stayed in caves in the area to protect himself from frost and cold.
In 1958, after Mullah Mustafa Barzani returned from the Soviet Union to Iraq and the September Revolution began, Keko Mela Ali contacted the revolution's Peshmerga forces. He became a Peshmerga with Hemədəmîn Mirxan Mergasori and took part in the Battle of Geliya Zawite in Bahdinan. On 7 February 1962, he took part in the Battle of Mireba in the Sheikhan District of Bahdinan.
After Mullah Mustafa Barzani moved to the Soran District, Keko Mela Ali went with a force to Soran. There he took part in all the battles in the area. In 1962, he was lightly wounded in one of the battles in the Sidakan area. In 1963, he was seriously wounded in the Battle of Keli Bini Biya and, because of the severity of his wounds, could not continue his Peshmerga service. As a result of that injury, he remained bedridden for 38 years, and his wife and children cared for him.
On 16 August 1996, in recognition of the services he had provided to the Kurdish people, Kurdistan, and the Barzani path, and on the 50th anniversary of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, President Barzani awarded him the Barzani Medal.
Source:1. Archive of the Encyclopedia Board of the Kurdistan Democratic Party.