In the spring of the year 1966, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense planned a large-scale attack on Kurdistan, which it intended to carry out on April 15 as in the previous year. They launched a large-scale attack in various parts of Kurdistan and seized several places. But the Peshmerga forces in Zakho, led by Issa Suwar and Ramadan Issa, prepared for a martyrdom operation so that the government forces would not think that the Peshmerga forces were unable to resist their attacks. They are not only in a defensive position, but they can also carry out martyrdom activities deep within the government forces. To this end, they planned an attack on the border of the city of Zakho, on the banks of Nerkiz, which was an important military transit point.
About 400 Peshmerga equipped themselves with weapons and ammunition to carry out this mission, and in March 1966, they began to move to cross a long distance and approach the intended place. On their way, which crossed the main road between Zakho and Hassan Awa, they passed by Iraqi Army barracks at night to reach a place close to where they wanted to carry out the operation. With the arrival of daylight, the Peshmerga hid in a hidden place until late in the evening, then they approached the government military bases near Nerkiz.
The Peshmerga forces began preparing to attack the army barracks with a solid plan. They set up their cannons in the direction of the barracks, and the fighting began late in the evening. At the beginning of the attack, they shelled the military positions and barracks with 120 mm cannons, then the Peshmerga forces launched an attack on the bases and positions of the Iraqi Army in the region. The Iraqi Army forces showed weak resistance, it seems, so battlefield after battlefield fell into the hands of the Peshmerga until the barracks were completely controlled.
In this martyrdom operation, a Syrian military base of the Iraqi Army fell with all its equipment into the hands of the Peshmerga, and two battalions of Arab agents (Jash) were completely destroyed. The losses of the government forces were as follows:
1. Full seizure of the Nerkiz military base.
2. Destruction of a military battalion and two battalions of Arab agents (Jash).
3. Killing of about 100 soldiers and Arab agents (Jash).
4. Capture of (86) soldiers and agents (Jash), and they were transported to the liberated areas.
Achievements:1. Seizure of 70 different weapons.
2. Seizure of large quantities of ammunition and military equipment.
It is worth noting that there was only one wounded person from the Peshmerga forces in this battle.
After the fighting ended and the martyrdom operation was successful, the Peshmerga forces returned to their headquarters unharmed, although the government had set up ambushes for them in several places with heavy forces with the intention of revenge. But the Peshmerga were well prepared and had good knowledge of the entire region, and when they heard the news, they changed their route and passed through another road.
The Nerkiz Epic was a unique victory for the Peshmerga and at the same time a great achievement for the revolution against the government army. On the other hand, it had an effective role in raising the morale of the Peshmerga. The government also found that the Peshmerga forces could reach everywhere, near and far, to carry out Peshmerga activities whenever they wanted to.
It is worth noting that this victory and other victories of the Peshmerga over the Iraqi Army in various regions pushed the government to listen to Kurdish demands and resume another round of negotiations.
Sources:1- Ari Karim, Several Living Pages in the Aylul Revolution, Khabat Press, Duhok 1999.
2- Masoud Barzani, Barzani and the Kurdish Liberation Movement, Volume Three, Part One, Aylul Revolution 1961-1975, First Edition 2004.
3- Hawkar Karim Hama Sharif: Aylul Revolution, Salahaddin University Press, First Edition, Erbil, 2012.
4- Ibrahim Jalal, Southern Kurdistan and the Aylul Revolution: Foundation and Collapse 1961-1975, Fourth Edition, 2021.