Battle of Haj Omran (1966)

{{Short description|1966 Battle between Kurdish and Iraqi forces during the First Iraqi–Kurdish War}}

{{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = Battle of Haj Omran

| partof = the First Iraqi–Kurdish War

| date = June 1966

| place = Haj Omran, Iraqi Kurdistan

| result = Kurdish victory

| combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan.svg}} Peshmerga forces

| combatant2 = {{flag|Iraq|1963}}

| commander1 = Mustafa Barzani

| commander2 = Abdul Rahman Arif

| strength1 = ~1,500 fighters

| strength2 = ~5,000 troops with armor and air support

| casualties1 = ~50 killed

| casualties2 = ~200 killed

| campaignbox =

}}

The Battle of Haj Omran ({{langx|ckb|شەڕی حاجی ئۆمەران}}) was a key engagement during the First Iraqi–Kurdish War, fought in June 1966 between Peshmerga fighters under Mustafa Barzani and the Iraqi Army led by President Abdul Rahman Arif.O'Ballance, Edgar. The Kurdish Revolt: 1961–1970. Faber and Faber, 1973, pp. 112–115.

Background

After the collapse of peace talks in 1965, the Iraqi government resumed military operations against Kurdish-held regions. The town of Haj Omran, located in a strategic mountainous area near the Iranian border, became a focal point for the renewed fighting.CIA. [https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP79-00827A004500120001-5.pdf "CIA Report on Iraqi-Kurdish Conflict." June 1966.]

The Battle

On June 15, 1966, approximately 5,000 Iraqi troops, supported by T-54 tanks and MiG-21 fighter jets, launched an offensive against entrenched Peshmerga positions. Despite being outnumbered, the Kurds—using guerrilla tactics and their knowledge of the terrain—successfully ambushed Iraqi forces in the mountain passes. After three days of intense clashes, Iraqi forces retreated, suffering significant casualties.The Times. "Kurdish Forces Repel Iraqi Attack." 18 June 1966, p. 9.

References

Sources

{{cite book |last=O'Ballance |first=Edgar |title=The Kurdish Revolt: 1961–1970 |publisher=Faber and Faber |year=1973 |pages=112–115}}
{{cite web |date=June 1966 |title=CIA Report on Iraqi-Kurdish Conflict |url=https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP79-00827A004500120001-5.pdf |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}}
{{cite news |date=18 June 1966 |title=Kurdish Forces Repel Iraqi Attack |newspaper=The Times |page=9}}