The press center of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) released a statement providing information about Turkey's war of aggression against parts of the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). Accordingly, the Turkish army continues to use chemical warfare agents amid intensified air strikes and ground assaults on the region.

The guerrillas are countering with an offensive and putting up fierce resistance. In various actions on Sunday, at least fifteen members of the Turkish occupation forces were killed and eight others were injured. In addition, guerrillas struck and damaged a helicopter.

Regarding the details of the guerrilla actions and Turkish attacks on May 15, HPG provided the following information:

AVAŞIN

The Werxelê resistance area was attacked eight times with chemical weapons and explosives before an attempted advance on the defensive positions. The guerrillas initially intervened using sabotage tactics and the use of light weapons, killing one soldier. Later, the occupation forces came under fire with heavy weapons, which left at least two soldiers injured.

"In response to the inability of the invaders to advance in the face of the actions of our forces, the Werxelê resistance area was again massively bombed. Chemical agents, warplanes, attack helicopters and artillery fired from outposts on the border were used," said the HPG statement released on Monday.

ZAP

In the region of Zap, the HPG recorded simultaneous air, chemical weapons and howitzer attacks against guerrilla positions at Girê Cehennem in the Çiyareş area on Sunday morning. The Turkish forces that then attempted to approach the area were struck by guerrillas, killing five of them.

Other military personnel in the area were targeted by mobile guerrilla units at about the same time, as a result of which four soldiers were killed and four others were seriously injured. At about 7 p.m., another advance attempt by Turkish troops was confronted by YJA Star (Free Women’s Troops) guerrillas who responded with two successive guerrilla sabotages, killing at least three occupiers.

In Şikefta Birindara, guerrillas fired on several soldiers moving around the war positions in Kevirêkun, killing one soldier and injuring two others. In the resistance area of Şehîd Şahîn, guerrillas with heavy weapons sabotaged the Turkish forces attempting to advance on the war positions there, forcing the military units to retreat.

In Çemço, two attack helicopters came under "heavy artillery fire" during an attack flight and were forced to retreat, with one of the aircraft being damaged. Nineteen attacks with chemical weapons and explosives have been recorded at defensive positions on Girê Şehîd Hewrê.

METINA

In Metîna, the guerrillas took action against a Turkish army outpost in Kanî Masî. The town is administratively part of Duhok governorate in the KDP-ruled Kurdistan Region of Iraq. "Our forces used heavy weapons, and all the intended targets were hit. In a subsequent sniper action, one of the occupiers was shot dead," HPG said.

Another advance of Turkish troops on Werxelê in Avaşîn was successfully pushed back early on Monday.

TURKISH ATTACKS

The HPG put the number of airstrikes on the Zap region yesterday at 29, according to which the Turkish Air Force targeted Sîda, Çiyareş, Girê Cûdî, Girê FM, Şikefta Birîndara, Karker, Şehîd Şahîn, Girê Amediye, Girê Ortê and Kuro Jahro. Attacks with fighter jets and howitzers were registered at the same time. In Metîna, Girê Hakkarî was targeted by these combined attacks. In Xakurke, the slopes of Girê Şekîf were shelled by the troops deployed at the Turkish outposts on the border.