Qandil Mountains

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. Its highest peaks reach over 3,000m. These mountains are regarded as sacred by the Kurds.

The area is notable as a sanctuary and central command center for the Kurdish nationalist organization Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The PKK and their armed guerrillas 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.

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