Kosrat Rasul Ali's military career emerged from the turbulent political conditions that followed the collapse of the Kurdish movement in 1975. As Kurdish political organizations sought to reorganize and continue resistance against the Iraqi government, he became involved in underground activism and later joined the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
During the late 1970s and 1980s, he rose through the ranks of the Peshmerga and established himself as one of the movement's most respected commanders. His leadership developed during a period characterized by conflict between Kurdish forces and Saddam Hussein's government, as well as the wider instability created by the Iran-Iraq War. Unlike many political leaders whose influence was rooted in party structures or family networks, Kosrat Rasul Ali's authority was largely built through military service, battlefield experience, and direct participation in the Kurdish resistance movement.
Throughout the 1980s, Kurdish forces fought against the Iraqi government in one of the most difficult periods of Kurdish history. This era included extensive military campaigns against Kurdish communities and efforts by Kurdish organizations to maintain resistance despite overwhelming military pressure.
Kosrat Rasul Ali became associated with operations in the Erbil region. These operations helped establish his reputation as an effective field commander and strengthened his position within the Kurdish movement. For many observers, the late 1980s represented the formative period of his military career and the foundation upon which his later influence would be built.
One of the most notable military operations associated with Kosrat Rasul Ali during the 1980s was the Sari Rash Campaign of 1988. The campaign occurred during the final phase of the Iran-Iraq War and amid broader Kurdish resistance efforts against Saddam Hussein's government. Although historians continue to debate the strategic significance of individual operations during this period, the campaign contributed significantly to Kosrat's reputation as a capable commander. The late 1980s also coincided with the Anfal Campaign, one of the darkest chapters in Kurdish history. The violence of this period reinforced the determination of many Kurdish leaders and fighters to continue their struggle despite overwhelming odds.
Kosrat Rasul Ali achieved national prominence during the Kurdish Uprising of 1991, known in Kurdish as Raparin. The uprising followed Iraq's defeat in the Gulf War and rapidly spread throughout Kurdish areas. Kurdish forces succeeded in liberating numerous cities and towns from government control, creating the conditions that would eventually lead to the emergence of the modern Kurdistan Region.
Kosrat played a significant role in military operations associated with the liberation of Ranya, Shaqlawa, Hawler (Erbil), and Kerkûk (Kirkuk). These operations remain among the most important achievements of his military career and continue to occupy a central place in Kurdish historical memory. The uprising is widely regarded as one of the most important turning points in modern Kurdish history, and Kosrat Rasul Ali is frequently identified as one of its leading military figures.
Among all the military operations associated with Kosrat Rasul Ali, the Battle of Kore Mountain occupies a particularly important place.
The battle became a symbol of Kurdish resistance and determination. Kurdish forces successfully resisted Iraqi military attempts to regain control of strategic areas during the uprising. The engagement strengthened Kurdish morale and contributed significantly to the success of the broader uprising. For many Kurds, Kore Mountain remains one of the defining symbols of resistance against the Ba'ath regime. As a result, Kosrat Rasul Ali's name has become closely linked with the battle and its legacy.
Innorthern Iraq became a highly complex security environment. One of the most serious threats in the eastern Kurdistan Region came from Ansar al-Islam, an extremist organization that established a presence in areas near Halabja, Biyara, and the Iranian border. Kosrat Rasul Ali became associated with Kurdish military efforts against Ansar al-Islam during this period. Kurdish forces, particularly those linked to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, fought to remove the group from strategic mountain areas and border regions that had become centers of militant activity. The liberation of Biyara in 2003 formed part of this broader campaign. The operation was significant not only because it weakened Ansar al-Islam’s territorial control, but also because it helped secure an important area of eastern Kurdistan during the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s regime. For Kurdish forces, the fight against Ansar al-Islam represented a different type of conflict from earlier battles against the Iraqi army. It combined counterinsurgency, mountain warfare, intelligence work, and cooperation with international forces during the early stages of the Iraq War.
Following the fall of Saddam Hussein's government in 2003, Kosrat Rasul Ali remained involved in military and security affairs. Kurdish sources frequently associate him with operations that led to the capture of Taha Yassin Ramadan, Iraq's former Vice President and one of the highest-ranking officials of the Ba'ath regime. The operation was viewed as a significant achievement for Kurdish security institutions and contributed to efforts aimed at dismantling the remaining structures of Saddam Hussein's government.
Kosrat Rasul Ali has also been linked by Kurdish sources to intelligence activities connected to Operation Red Dawn, the operation that resulted in Saddam Hussein's capture in December 2003. While historians distinguish between verified coalition records and claims originating from Kurdish political sources, there is broad agreement that Kurdish intelligence organizations played an important role during this period.
The rise of ISIS in 2014 presented one of the most serious threats in the history of the Kurdistan Region. Despite holding senior political office, Kosrat Rasul Ali returned to a visible frontline role during the conflict. He became particularly associated with the defense of Kirkuk and other strategically important areas threatened by ISIS advances. His presence near frontline positions reinforced his image as a commander who maintained close ties with the Peshmerga and remained committed to military leadership even after entering politics.
For supporters, his role during the war against ISIS demonstrated continuity between the revolutionary commander of the 1980s and 1990s and the political leader of the modern Kurdistan Region.
Following the referendum, rising tensions between Erbil and Baghdad led to a military crisis in the disputed territories, particularly Kirkuk. As one of Kurdistan's most senior military figures, Kosrat played an active role in supporting and coordinating Peshmerga efforts to defend Kirkuk. He maintained close contact with frontline forces and repeatedly emphasized the strategic and national importance of the city. Following the withdrawal of Kurdish forces from Kirkuk in October 2017, Kosrat strongly criticized the events that led to the loss of the city. The crisis reinforced his reputation as a commander who remained committed to the defense of Kurdistan long after entering political office.
From a military perspective, Kosrat Rasul Ali is widely regarded as one of the most prominent Peshmerga commanders of the modern Kurdish national movement. His military career spans several decades and encompasses some of the most significant conflicts in contemporary Kurdish history, including the struggle against the Ba'ath regime, the Kurdish Uprising of 1991, the Battle of Kore Mountain, operations against Ansar al-Islam, the capture of senior Ba'ath officials following the 2003 Iraq War, and the war against ISIS.
Unlike many political figures whose influence emerged primarily through party structures or government institutions, Kosrat Rasul Ali's reputation was built on battlefield leadership and direct participation in armed resistance. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he became closely associated with frontline operations and developed a reputation as a commander who maintained a visible presence among Peshmerga forces during periods of conflict.
His role during the 1991 Kurdish Uprising remains particularly significant. The liberation of major Kurdish cities and the Battle of Kore Mountain established his standing as one of the most influential military leaders of the uprising and contributed substantially to his prominence within Kurdish society. The success of these operations helped shape the emergence of Kurdish self-rule and remains central to assessments of his military career.
In later years, Kosrat Rasul Ali continued to play an active role in Kurdish military affairs. He was associated with operations against Ansar al-Islam in eastern Kurdistan, efforts to capture senior members of the former Ba'ath regime, and the defense of Kurdish territories during the war against ISIS. Despite holding senior political office, he remained closely connected to the Peshmerga and was frequently present near frontline positions during periods of military crisis.
Among supporters and admirers, Kosrat Rasul Ali is often referred to as "The Lion of Kurdistan," a title reflecting perceptions of courage, determination, and military leadership. For many Kurds, his name has become closely associated with sacrifice, resistance, and the historical role of the Peshmerga in defending Kurdistan.
As a result, Kosrat Rasul Ali occupies a prominent place in the military history of the Kurdistan Region and is frequently cited among the most influential Kurdish commanders of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.