Defense of Jujar

Defense of Jujar
Part of Surchi Revolt
Date 15 September, 1920 Location Mindan, Zab River, Iraq Result Assyrian victory
Belligerents
Kurdish Tribesmen Surchi tribesmen	Assyrian Levies
Commanders and leaders
Babakr Agha	Agha Petros Malik Khoshaba
Strength
600	Lower than the Kurds
Casualties and losses
200 killed 140 drowned	4 Killed, 8 wounded

The Defense of Jujar (15 September 1920) was a Kurdish attack on an Assyrian repatriation camp named Jujar located in Mindan, Iraq. Although the Kurdish force outnumbered the Assyrians, the assault failed, and they were decisively defeated and driven back across the Zab River by the Assyrian defenders

Background

In 1920, the Surchi Kurds of the Akre district launched a rebellion in opposition against the British government. The rebellion was a strong one, and the government failed to put it down for a long time. it wasn’t until September of 1920, when the Surchi Kurds attacked the Assyrian camp of Jujar, that they were defeated by the Assyrian forces of Agha Petros.

Battle

During the second week of September 1920, the Surchi Kurds launched an attack on the Assyrian repatriation camp of Jujar, located thirty miles northeast of Mosul. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Assyrians inflicted heavy losses on the attackers—reportedly killing 60 and forcing others to flee across the Zab River, where around 140 are said to have drowned. The Assyrians sustained only minimal casualties (4 killed, 8 wounded).

Aftermath

The failed Surchi Kurdish attack ended in heavy losses, the Assyrians then drove them through the Zab river, which resulted in approximately 140 Kurds drowning. The Assyrian victory stopped further rebellion in the area and allowed British forces under General Haldane to shift focus to other regions. The success also showed the effectiveness of armed Assyrian units trained by the Civil Administration, reinforcing British control in northern Mesopotamia.