French
DeutschQandil Mountains
| Qandil Mountains | |
|---|---|
| قەندیل (Çiyakanî Qendîl) | |
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,587 metres (11,768 ft) |
| Coordinates | 36°32′28″N 44°59′46″E / 36.54111°N 44.99611°E |
| Dimensions | |
| Area | 50 square kilometres (19 sq mi) |
| Naming | |
| Native name | چیایێن قەندیلێ (Çiyayên Qendîlê) (Kurdish) |
| Geography | |
  Qandil Mountains | |
 | |
| Country |  Iraq |
| Region |  Kurdistan Region |
| Parent range | Zagros |
| Borders on |  Iran |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Zagros fold and thrust belt |
The Qandil Mountains (Kurdish: چیایێن قەندیلێ Çiyayên Qendîlê, Arabic: جبل قنديل), are a mountainous area of Kurdistan near the Iran-Iraq border. The region belongs to the Zagros mountain range and is difficult to access, with extremely rugged terrain. The highest peaks reach over 3,000m.
The area is notable as a sanctuary and headquarters for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Approximately 5,000 PKK and other armed Kurdish factions control an area of roughly 50 km², which has been sporadically bombarded by the Turkish Air Force and shelled by Iranian military artillery for several years. The Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) is also based in the Qandil Mountains, which allows them to infiltrate into Iran.[1] In 1967, the PDKI attacked Pahlavi Regime to try and regain separatism in Iran but in 1968 they lost the revolt which resulted in them fleeing down to Qandil Mountains,[2] they fled underground and until 1979 and Qandil Mountains was the PDKI Headquarters from 1968-1993 and Qandil Mountains was an important part of the PDKI where the Iranian regime attacked several military camps during the 1979 Kurdish Insurgency in Iran and the PDKI Insurgency 1989-1996.
See also
[edit]- Kuhe Haji Ebrahim (highest peak)
References
[edit]- ^ Gunter, Michael M. (2010-11-04). Historical Dictionary of the Kurds. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810875074.
- ^ "1967 Kurdish revolt in Iran", Wikipedia, 2025-03-28, retrieved 2025-03-28
External links
[edit]- With the P.K.K. in Iraq’s Qandil Mountains by The New York Times
- Interviews with female PKK fighters in Qandil by BBC News
- Mount Qandil: A Safe Haven for Kurdish Militants – Part 1, Part 2
- "We want peace. But we will not surrender". Lower Class Magazin. 2016-05-17. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
- 1967 Kurdish revolt in Iran[1]
- Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan[2]
- ^ "1967 Kurdish revolt in Iran", Wikipedia, 2025-03-28, retrieved 2025-03-28
- ^ "Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan", Wikipedia, 2025-03-28, retrieved 2025-03-28