On 20 October 2017, Kurdish Peshmerga forces fought a roughly ten-hour battle at Altun Kupri (Prde), about 20 miles north of Kirkuk, against a larger force of approximately 12,000 Iraqi army and Popular Mobilization Forces fighters advancing after the Peshmerga withdrawal from Kirkuk.

Despite being outnumbered, the Peshmerga destroyed or damaged around ten tanks and armored vehicles—including several M1A1 Abrams—and inflicted 155 reported fatalities, using mobile tactics and anti-tank missiles to halt further advances toward Erbil.

The engagement, later called the “Prde Epic” or “Abrams Breakers Epic,” is commemorated in Kurdish accounts as a decisive stand that preserved the Kurdistan Region’s territorial integrity following the September 2017 independence referendum.

The renowned battle of Altun Kupri, also known as Prde in Kurdish, was fought between Kurdish Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi military, who were assisted by Popular Mobilization forces, also known as Hashd al Shaabi. Despite being severely outnumbered and underequipped, the Peshmerga forces were able to defeat a significant force.

This epic stand has become a symbol of Kurdish bravery. The Kurdish Peshmerga forces’ concluding stand was fierce, although the battle was brief. The........

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