The guerrillas received an intelligence report stating that a force of 350 Italian and Aromanian troops were planning to assemble in the village of Mesohori in order to conduct a counter-insurgency operation in the Verdikousia area.

[2] In the early morning of 16 February 1943, the local Greek rebels positioned themselves on the Mauritsa hillock 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) south of Domenikon, but plans of organising an ambush at the Asprogia hill were abandoned at the last moment due to erosion.

The rebels fired at the Italians immediately before the whole convoy had entered the engagement area, thus allowing an unseen motorcycle at the end of the column to escape and make its way to the Axis encampment at Mesohori.

At approximately 22:30, when the column reached the Kaukaki area, a messenger sent by the Italian general who had been injured at the Mauritsa incident, delivered a message, ordering the summary execution of the male population.

Babalis was arrested by the Italian authorities and sentenced to death, but he managed to avoid execution as the concentration camp where he was held was liberated by Allied troops.

[2] According to historian Lidia Santarelli, the massacre was the first in a series of repressive measures carried out in the spring and summer of 1943, following an order by General Carlo Geloso, commander of the Italian forces of occupation, stating that rebellious action would result in collective punishment.