Kirkuk Liberation Day is observed in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq every March 20. This day commemorates the fall of Kirkuk to Kurdish rebels during the 1991 uprisings, which aimed for greater autonomy following Iraq's defeat in the Persian Gulf War. The rebellion, primarily driven by Kurdish nationalists, began on March 5, 1991, and within ten days, rebels had taken control of most northern Iraqi cities, with Kirkuk being the last to fall. Although the uprising was ultimately suppressed, it led to the Iraqi government's withdrawal from Kurdistan in October, allowing the region to operate independently. The day serves as a significant reminder of the struggle for autonomy and the historical events that shaped Iraqi Kurdistan.