Battle
1920 battle
The Battle of Aqra Dagh, which took place on 27 October 1920, refers to the Assyrian advance into the Aqra mountains toward the Zab river, during which a Kurdish resistance attempt failed. The Assyrian force, numbering between 4,000 and 6,000 men, and led by Agha Petros and Malik Khoshaba, was marching through northern Iraq at the time.
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Text from the Wikipedia article “Battle of Aqra Dagh”, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Battle of Aqra Dagh, which took place on 27 October 1920, refers to the Assyrian advance into the Aqra mountains toward the Zab river, during which a Kurdish resistance attempt failed. The Assyrian force, numbering between 4,000 and 6,000 men, and led by Agha Petros and Malik Khoshaba, was marching through northern Iraq at the time.
The Kurdish rebellions had all previously been defeated in northern Iraq, but the Surchi Kurds of Aqra began an uprising in 1919.
On 27 October 1920, Assyrian forces led by Agha Petros and Malik Khoshaba marched on the Kurds of Aqra in order to occupy the lands, but were met with resistance while crossing Aqra Dagh and the Zab river.
The Assyrians had advanced into northern Iraq with the goal of occupying the region and suppressing rebellions, with the aim to establish a potential independent state. This effort was arranged by Agha Petros and British officer Colonel Colin Owen amongst others.
Upon reaching the mountains behind Aqra, the Assyrians confronted the enemy and engaged in fierce battle. The Assyrian advance was firm but met resistance, especially upon reaching the Zab River. The Zaibari Kurds assembled in full force, managing to halt the Assyrians for several days, due to the obstacle of the river.
In order to overcome this challenge, the Assyrians constructed small boats (kalaks) using goatskin. At night, a part of the Assyrian army crossed the river undetected. At dawn, they launched a surprise attack, leading to enemy trenches under heavy machine-gun fire.
During this attack, three notable Assyrian fighters—Jejji Easho of Beillata, Israel Benyamin of Upper Tyareh, and Khiu of Lagippa—were killed. These warriors, described as giants and valiant fighters, played a crucial role in opening the way for the Assyrian advance near the village of Billeh. Their efforts forced the enemy into retreat.
A heated battle took place, with heavy casualties on both sides as the Assyrians took control of the enemy's trenches. Eventually, the Kurdish forces fled towards Sharwaneh Mezin, leading to the Assyrians’ victory in this engagement.
The Kurds retreated to Sharwaneh Mezin, clearing the way for the Assyrians to reach the Zab River, cross it, and continue their advance to occupy additional territory. The Assyrians looted Kurdish villages who had no involvement in the conflict, and stole their goods.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Battle of Aqra Dagh”, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.