In retaliation for the death of Bêrîvan Zîlan, the YJA Star (Free Women’s Troops) have carried out a revolutionary operation against the Turkish occupation forces in the Zap region.

In its daily statement about the ongoing war in the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq), the press centre of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) said, "Mobile units of the YJA Star have carried out a revolutionary operation in the resistance area of Şikefta Birîndara to avenge our comrade Bêrîvan Zîlan, one of the leaders of our freedom movement. With this legendary retaliatory action, the YJA Star has once again shown that it is the legitimate defence force of Kurdish women and the women inspired by it worldwide. The occupying states equipped with a reactionary patriarchal mind can attack the will of free women all they want, but our life in the free mountains of Kurdistan led by the free women's movement will forever remain an eternal truth."

According to the statement, guerrillas of the YJA Star struck the Turkish invading forces in the Şikefta Birîndara area from three flanks with firearms on August 23, Tuesday, morning. Eleven soldiers were killed and one injured in the action. When the army went to recover the bodies, two more soldiers were shot dead by snipers. While Turkish troops then advanced with armoured cars, YJA Star guerrillas carried out a sabotage action in which one armoured vehicle was damaged as the other armoured cars had to retreat. After the surviving soldiers dispersed the terrain, two of them were shot dead in the evening. A total of 15 soldiers were killed in the area, and their bodies are under the control of the guerrillas.

More guerrilla actions in the Zap region

HPG reported that more guerrilla actions took place in the Zap region on Tuesday. In Saca, guerrillas hit the invading forces with heavy weapons. In the Çemço area, an advance by the Turkish army was stopped, leaving two soldiers dead. At 11 pm, the guerrillas intervened against helicopters that were on an attack flight towards the Karker area. Due to the massive shelling, the helicopters had to leave the area.

Turkish attacks on Medya Defense Zones

According to the HPG statement, on 22 and 23 August, the Turkish army carried out ten attacks with tactical nuclear bombs and chemical weapons against guerrilla positions in Karker and Çemço. While Şikefta Birîndara was bombed by a drone on Tuesday, Saca was attacked seven times by attack helicopters, and four airstrikes were carried out on the Sîda area by fighter jets. The Girê Hekarî was shelled dozens of times by howitzers.