In the late 19th century, the
Ottoman Empire witnessed a rise in sectarian and ethnic tensions, especially in the eastern regions with a majority of
Kurds and Christians. These tensions reached their peak during the
Hamidian Massacres between 1894 and 1896, which primarily targeted Armenians but also affected
Assyrians, Chaldeans, and
Syriacs, particularly in the
Diyarbakir province. In October and November 1895, the Diyarbakir massacres took place, where thousands of Christians were killed, and many villages and churches were destroyed and looted. These massacres left a deep impact on the Christian communities, which began to see themselves as threatened with extinction. Amidst this chaos, armed Kurdish tribes with direct or indirect support from the Ottoman authorities began to attack Assyrian village properties and steal their livestock, leading to violent reactions from some Assyrian groups, particularly the Tyari in the Çölemerik region, who engaged in armed conflicts between 1895 and 1897. == 1895–1897 events ==