The Baroshke battle was another activity of the Peshmerga force against the security apparatus of the Ba'ath regime. A Peshmerga force of the Duhok District Committee, commanded by Muhammad Murad, set up an ambush in the city of Duhok on one of the spring nights of 1983. At 9 o'clock at night, two city police vehicles fell into the ambush. The Peshmerga force opened fire on them from all sides. In a short time, they took control of them and burned both vehicles. A number of policemen were killed and others were taken prisoner, and their weapons were seized. Then the Peshmerga force was able to safely exit the city and return to the district headquarters.
After the outbreak of the Gulan Revolution, groups and teams of the Peshmerga force gradually infiltrated the cities and villages by order of the revolution's leadership. The Peshmerga force established bases and headquarters in many areas. Along with that, the situation of the Kurdish revolution in terms of activity and confrontation with the security apparatus and military forces of the Iraqi Army developed. In most of the various areas, in recording the activity of the Peshmerga in the form of guerrilla warfare, they confronted the Ba'ath military forces and caused them heavy losses. An important part of the strategy of these activities was a message to the Ba'ath regime that the Kurdish revolution continues and does not back down from its legitimate rights. Clearly, a prominent and visible aspect of the Peshmerga's activities in confronting military and security forces throughout the wars and clashes was setting up ambushes on the roads and places where those forces passed to confront the Peshmerga and carry out military tasks. The Peshmerga force was also capable of dealing heavy blows to those military and security forces with that method of confrontation.
In that era of the revolution, the Peshmerga force belonged to branches, districts, and organizations. A Peshmerga force of about 20 people belonging to the Duhok District Committee of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, under the supervision of Muhammad Murad, on one of the spring nights of the year 1983, to carry out an activity and strike a blow at the security apparatus of the Ba'ath government, headed towards the Sina and Sheikh Khadra area, then climbed to the top of the Sina village and then descended down towards the city of Duhok near the general garage of the Baroshke neighborhood. The Peshmerga force drew up a map and plan to carry out an activity inside the city of Duhok, which consisted of setting up an ambush for the city's security agencies. Clearly, to carry out this activity, the Peshmerga force was divided into three groups: one group went to a height to protect the return route, another group went in front of the Baroshke police station to monitor the station's police force, and the third group stationed themselves in the place that had been designated for setting up the ambush.
The Peshmerga force remained inside the city until nearly 9 o'clock at night, when two city police force vehicles fell into the ambush. The Peshmerga immediately confronted them and opened fire on them from all sides. In a short time, they took control of both vehicles, set them on fire, and burned them. As a result of that battle and confrontation, 10 policemen were killed and 6 others were taken prisoner along with an officer named Salah. Then they seized their weapons, which consisted of 10 pistols, one (RPG), and some other military equipment.
After carrying out the activity, the entire Peshmerga force was safe and unharmed. Then, with a successful plan, they decided to exit the city, withdrew to the village of Itute, crossed the main road at the village of Bere Bahare, and went to the headquarters of the Duhok District Committee. Clearly, this activity of the Peshmerga had a great impact in the city of Duhok and its surroundings. It also caused great fear in the ranks of the security and military agencies of the Ba'ath government in the region, especially in the city of Duhok, because the government did not believe that the Peshmerga could carry out such an activity inside the city of Duhok.
Sources:1- Muhammad Murad, Khabata Chiya, Memories and Events of the Gulan Revolution between the years (176-1989), (Kurdistan Press- Zakho- 2007).
2- Masoud Barzani, Barzani and the Kurdish Liberation Movement, Volume Four, 1975-1990 Gulan Revolution, Part Two, First Edition, (Ruksana Press- 2021).
3- Ghazi Adil Gardi, A Peshmerga in the Service of the Barzani Path, Haji Birokhi, Volume Two, Second Edition, (Turkey- 2021).
4- Shimal Zebari, Some Hidden Truths in the Gulan Revolution, First Edition, (Rojhelat Press- Erbil- 2015).