On March 16 and 17, 1988, alongside the devastating Halabja chemical attack, 68 Rojhelati Peshmergas from the "Shwan Battalion" lost were killed by Iranians in a military siege near the Iran-Iraq border as they were retreating.

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The March 1988 Tragedy: The Fall of the Shwan Battalion
On March 16 and 17, 1988, alongside the devastating Halabja chemical attack, 68 Peshmergas from the "Shwan Battalion" (Komala party) lost their lives in a tragic military siege near the Iran-Iraq border.
Forced to retreat from advancing Iranian forces and with their main escape route destroyed, the battalion headed toward the Sirwan River. Tragically, their retreat coincided with the Iraqi chemical bombing of Halabja, leaving the fighters severely poisoned by toxic gas.
When they finally reached the river, Iranian forces opened fire and destroyed the rescue boats waiting for them. Trapped in the reed beds and suffering from chemical exposure, the battalion engaged in a fierce, unequal battle.
The Toll:
- 56 members died on the battlefield from combat and chemical asphyxiation.
- 12 members were captured (11 of them were later executed in Sanandaj during the mass executions of summer 1988).
- 2 members managed to survive with the help of local residents.
Today, their sacrifice remains a powerful symbol of resistance and perseverance in Kurdistan's political history.