The Press Centre of the People's Defence Forces (HPG) reported that twelve soldiers of the Turkish army were killed during resistance actions against the Turkish army which has been carrying out an invasion campaign in the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in Southern Kurdistan (Northern Iraq) since mid-April.

According to the HPG statement on Sunday, the Turkish army has committed further war crimes by using chemical weapons. HPG reported four chemical weapons attacks against guerrilla positions near Amadiya, as well as 22 bombings by fighter jets, 47 attacks by helicopters and dozens of attacks by howitzers, tanks and heavy weapons.

The HPG gave the following details of the war in Southern Kurdistan:

GUERRILLA ACTIONS IN ZAP

In Çemço in the Zap region, four soldiers were killed in two separate guerrilla actions with heavy weapons on 10 December. Late on Saturday afternoon, the guerrillas intervened with a sabotage action directed against a Turkish squad that wanted to introduce smoke from lit car tires into a tunnel facility and use chemical weapons. The soldiers then retreated. In addition, a military vehicle was shot at and damaged.

In Sîda, also in the Zap, an enemy position was destroyed, leaving one soldier dead. Two more guerrilla actions with heavy weapons took place in the same area.

BATTLES AND AIR STRIKES IN METÎNA

In Metîna, on 9 December, the guerrillas advanced from close range with light weapons and hand grenades against an advance of Turkish troops towards the Şehîd Andok area at Girê Ortê. A battle ensued in which at least five soldiers were killed. The Turkish army withdrew its ground troops and bombed the area seven times by fighter jets and at least 13 times by helicopters. Only after the massive bombardment was the army able to recover its dead and wounded and transport them away by helicopter.

On 10 December, two more advance attempts were made into the area. The guerrillas struck the invaders again from a short distance and killed two of them. Fighting at Girê Ortê continues.

INTERVENTION AGAINST AIRBORNE TROOPS AT GIRÊ CÛDÎ

In the Girê Cûdî resistance area, mobile guerrilla fighters fired on transport helicopters that were dropping off troops on Saturday. The Sikorsky aircraft were forced to retreat by the shelling.

At Girê Şehîd Axîn in Xakurke, a mobile guerrilla team struck the Turkish occupation forces with heavy weapons.

ATTACKS BY THE TURKISH ARMY

The Turkish army again attacked guerrilla positions in the Çemço area with chemical weapons between 4.30 and 5.30 pm on 10 December. The area is in Sheladize town in the Amadiya district. In the previous three days, 150 chemical weapons operations had taken place in the same area. The People's Defence Centre (HSM) today called for an independent investigation in response to Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar's claim that Turkey had investigated and refuted relevant allegations. The area is accessible to vehicles via a paved road, HSM said.

The areas of Çemço, Girê Cûdî and Girê Bihar as well as Girê Ortê in Metîna were bombed 15 times by fighter jets on Saturday, in addition to 34 attacks by attack helicopters on Girê Amêdî, Girê Cûdî and Girê FM.