Dinarta • دینارتە • دينارته • Dinarte

ܢܗܠܐ‎ Nahla a massive, spectacular subdistrict situated amid the mountains, based in Nahla Valley, a mainly Assyrian valley that once was along the border of Duhok and Mosul Governorates.

The subdistrict follows mostly natural boundaries. Its southern boundary is the mountain range along which Akre and Bakirman are set. Its northern, northeastern, and eastern boundary follows the Great Zab River. And to the west, its border follows a path roughly from Dereluk to Bakirman, both of which are just outside the district.This valley was traditionally the border between Duhok and Mosul governorates. Its center used to be Pera Kapra village, but administrative reasons and the lack of suitable roads meant the center transferred in 1955 to Dinarta village, right in the middle.

The heartland of this subdistrict is the eponymous valley itself. Nahla means low valley because it is between Mount Pire in the north/middle and the mountains Sari Agiri, Zanta and Sada to the south. It is mainly Assyrian. The people depend on agriculture to earn their living, the area is well-known in growing rice beside the fruitful trees which spread in the recent years since they started to grow apples, peaches, pears, apricots and some natural plants (trees) like oaks, gallnuts and trees for wood and coal. Growing cereal is regarded to be the last degree of their interest like wheat, barley, lentils and chick-peas grown in very small and narrow areas because the majority of its areas are mountainous with the exception of (Hareen) plain. The district lands are covered with dense forests including natural fruitful trees like oaks, gallnuts, wild pears and others.

According to a League of Nations report, in 1933 Dinarta, or Dinarta d'nabla, was home to 113 Assyrians. The village was mixed Assyrian-Kurdish before its Assyrian inhabitants finally abandoned it. In 1961 the remaining Assyrians fled, never to return, following attacks from both pro-government militia and neighboring tribes. Donabed 2010, p 100

• Dinarta (center)

• Villages

• Hezany
  Kasre
  Merokeh
  Belmat / Bilmand
  Khalilaneh
  Jouleh
  Chameh Chale
  Rabatkeh
  Kash Kawa

ASSYRIAN GUERRILLAS ATTACK KDP UNITS. The Patriotic Revolutionary Organization of Bet Nahrain (PROB), an Assyrian organization purportedly based in Northern Iraq, carried out two military attacks to avenge the death of the Assyrian woman murdered recently, Helene Sawa (see "RFE/RL Iraq Report," 25 June and 2 and 9 July 1999). A PROB spokesperson cited in the 2 August "Zenda" said that "each attack on our Assyrian-Suryoyo people will be paid back. This is the motto of our Patriotic Revolutionary Organization of Bet Nahrain."

The first such attack was carried out on 17 July by the April 24 unit of PROB near the city of Kasre against a KDP encampment. According to this unconfirmed report, 39 KDP supporters were killed and 20 wounded.

Three days later the same unit carried out another attack when a KDP army truck when PROB blew up a bridge between Kasre and Hajji 'Umran.

The Kurdish Regional Government, which is under the control of the KDP, has been accused of footdragging in the investigation of the murder of Helene Sawa. Some have suggested that a senior KDP official is implicated in the murder. (David Nissman) globalsecurity.org

Duhok Archaeology Office recorded (31) archaeological locations like Amada, Davari, Gerbeesh, Haran, Helowra, Pira Kapra and others. The district contains (109) villages, the majority of these villages were destroyed before and during Anfal campaign, after the formation of Kurdistan Region Government, most of these villages were erected and reconstructed in the district once again.

There are many tourism places with natural views and fresh water like (Geli Zanta, Gerbeesh, Geli Pires, Geli Spindar near Amada village). The water of springs spread all over the district forms some small tributaries especially in Nahle area where Brishow small river flows, consisting of:

(A) Gerbeesh- Seyan- Shazana- Dinarta- Zanta- Zherava- the great Zab.

(B) Naqab- Amada- Zanta.

Beside the great Zab river which forms the northern eastern border for the district. They also get benefit from the water of the small river (Khazer) which flows from (Kafia) village and forms the northern western border for the district. (Bani, Sari Helowra and Kadana) mountains.