Peshmerga forces departing from their bases in Erbil, making their way towards Kobane.
Kobane, a Kurdish city situated in northern Syria, sits near the Syrian-Turkish border. Its origins date back to the 1800s when. Various nomadic Kurdish tribes established the city. Prior to the formation of the Syrian Republic, Kobani was under the governance of Kurdish emirates including Milan, Jumi, and the Mili confederation.
Under the French mandate, Kobani faced repeated attacks from neighboring Arab tribes, yet it managed to stay under Kurdish control until Syria achieved independence from French rule. The name “Kobani” originates from a Kurdish term meaning “company”, which pays homage to a German company involved in constructing the Konya-Baghdad railway. During Syrian rule, Kobani endured significant cases of racial and ethnic cleansing, particularly in the 1960s when the Syrian Arab Republic introduced a project known as “The Arabic Belt”.
This initiative involved forcibly displacing the Kurdish population to Damascus and replacing them with Arab nomads, with the aim of Arabizing the city and isolating it from other Kurdish towns.
Following the Syrian revolution in 2011, Kobani fell under the control of the YPG, a Kurdish armed group located in Syrian Kurdistan, and became part of the self-proclaimed state of Western Kurdistan, known as “Rojava”.
On September 2nd, 2014, the Islamic State launched a large-scale operation to seize kobane, employing highly advanced weapons that they had acquired from the armies of Iraq and Syria.
During the initial stages of the operation, the Islamic State encountered significant resistance from the Kurdish militants. However, due to the Kurdish militants running out of weapons, the terrorist group managed to gain control over 95% of the city as well as the surrounding villages.
Siege of Kobane and Peshmerga deployment
On a day like today, October 28th, 2014, Massoud Barzani, the former president of Kurdistan, issued an order for Kurdish Peshmerga troops to mobilize towards Kobani. The purpose was to provide assistance to the injured and to fight alongside the Kurdish fighters who were defending the city. Kobani had been completely surrounded on three sides, making the Turkish border the only viable entry point into the city.
The following day, Masoud Barzani made a fervent appeal to the Turkish government, urging them to grant permission for the Peshmerga forces to enter through the Turkish border. After rigorous negotiations, Turkey eventually granted access to the Kurdish army.
This marked the beginning of a historic journey for the Peshmerga forces, commencing in Erbil. As thousands of people gathered along the road, they bid farewell to the Peshmerga troops, recognizing the significance of this momentous event.
Later that evening, the Peshmerga forces reached the Kurdish cities of Turkey, where they were greeted with open arms by millions of people waving Kurdish flags. Two days later, they successfully arrived in Kobani, bringing with them an arsenal of heavy weapons.
This infusion of support significantly bolstered the morale of the Kurdish fighters engaged in the city’s arduous battle, as well as inspiring Kurds worldwide. Following four months of intense clashes, the unified Kurdish forces ultimately succeeded in fully reclaiming control of the city.
It is important to note that during the Peshmerga’s presence in Kobane, a Peshmerga fighter named Zerevan Mzuri, hailing from the Barzan region, tragically lost his life in the line of duty.
National pride and Unity
The deployment of Peshmerga troops to Kobane stands as one of the most influential events in Kurdish history. Crossing borders of three nations, the Peshmerga exhibited remarkable solidarity with their fellow Kurdish fighters in the city.
This extraordinary event garnered international recognition, showcasing the Kurds’ unwavering commitment to supporting one another despite limited resources. The siege of Kobane engendered a profound sense of national pride among Kurds across all regions of Kurdistan, further strengthening their unity and determination.
The Peshmerga crossing borders to assist fellow Kurds in different regions was not an isolated occurrence. In 1945, under the leadership of Mustafa Barzani, almost one thousand Peshmerga fighters entered Iran from Iraq to support the newly formed Mahabad Republic. Similarly, in 1925, Sheikh Ahmad Barzani dispatched two hundred of his Peshmerga warriors to back the Sheikh Said rebellion. These historical instances highlight the longstanding tradition of Peshmerga forces extending aid across borders to uphold Kurdish causes and reinforce the bonds within the Kurdish community.
