Barzani Revolts
After twelve years of exile in the Soviet Union, Mustafa Barzani returned to Iraq following the 1958 revolution that overthrew the monarchy. On September 11, 1961, he launched the September Revolution (Aylul), beginning a decades-long armed struggle that would define the Kurdish movement in Iraq. The First Iraqi-Kurdish War lasted until 1970, with 75,000-105,000 casualties. The March Manifesto of March 11, 1970, signed between Barzani and Saddam Hussein, promised Kurdish autonomy, recognition of Kurdish as an official language, and Kurdish participation in government. But the agreement collapsed as Baghdad stalled on implementation, particularly regarding the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. War resumed in 1974. The devastating blow came on March 6, 1975, when the Algiers Agreement between Iran and Iraq cut off all Iranian support. The Kurdish movement collapsed within weeks -- a betrayal Barzani called his life's greatest tragedy. He died in exile in the United States on March 1, 1979.
Key Events
- Iraqi monarchy overthrown; Barzani returns from Soviet exile (1958)
- Barzani launches the September Revolution in Iraq (September 11, 1961)
- First Iraqi-Kurdish War: 75,000-105,000 casualties (1961-1970)
- March Manifesto promises Kurdish autonomy in Iraq (March 11, 1970)
- Iraq stalls on implementation; Kirkuk's status remains unresolved
- Second Iraqi-Kurdish War resumes as autonomy agreement collapses (1974)
- Algiers Agreement between Iran and Iraq cuts off Kurdish support (March 6, 1975)
- Kurdish movement collapses within weeks; 200,000+ refugees flee
- Jalal Talabani founds the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) (1975)
- Mustafa Barzani dies in exile in Washington, D.C. (March 1, 1979)
Key Figures
Legendary Kurdish leader (1903-1979), known as "the Eternal Peshmerga." Led the September Revolution and decades of armed struggle in Iraq. The Algiers Agreement collapse was his greatest tragedy. Died in exile in Washington.
Kurdish leader (1933-2017) who founded the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in 1975 after the Algiers Agreement collapse. Later became the first Kurdish President of Iraq.
Kurdish intellectual and political leader who co-founded the PUK. A key figure in the Kurdish political and literary movement in mid-20th century Iraq.