Qandil Mountains

"Qandil" redirects here. For the village in Iran, see Qandil, Iran.
Qandil Mountains
قەندیل
Çiyayên Qendîlê
Qandil Mountains

Arbil, Iraq (near Iraq–Iran border)

Highest point
Elevation 3,587 m (11,768 ft)
Coordinates 36°32′28″N 44°59′46″E / 36.54111°N 44.99611°E / 36.54111; 44.99611Coordinates: 36°32′28″N 44°59′46″E / 36.54111°N 44.99611°E / 36.54111; 44.99611
Geography
Location Arbil, Iraq (near Iraq–Iran border)
Parent range Zagros

The Qandil Mountains (Kurdish: قەندیل‎; Çiyayên Qendîlê), are a mountainous area of Iraqi Kurdistan near the Iraq–Iran 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 central command center for the Kurdish nationalist organization Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Approximately 5000 PKK and other armed guerrilla factions control an area of roughly 50 km², which has been bombarded by the Turkish Air Force and shelled by Iranian artillery for several years. The PJAK party is also stationed in Qandil alongside the PKK, which allows them to infiltrate into Iran to attack the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The main Kurdish leader in the area is Murat Karayılan.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gunter, Michael M. (2010-11-04). Historical Dictionary of the Kurds. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810875074.

Sources

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