The press centre of the People's Defence Forces (HPG) announced that 28 soldiers of the Turkish invading forces were killed in guerrilla actions in Medya Defense Zones in Southern Kurdistan (Northern Iraq) on Saturday.

"Under the leadership of mobile units of the YJA Star (Free Women’s Troops), our forces carried out effective actions. The actions took place as a salute to our immortal commander Bêrîtan (Gülnaz Karataş), who is the symbol of the emergence of the women's army, and as revenge for our companions who died in chemical weapons attacks. During the actions, 28 occupants were punished and eleven others were injured. At the same time, seven military tents and one position were destroyed. The Turkish occupation army bombed our resistance areas three times with fighter jets and dozens of times with howitzers, tanks, mortars and heavy weapons."

The guerrilla commander Bêrîtan (Gülnaz Karataş) fell on 25 October 1992 in Southern Kurdistan and is considered a symbol of the women's liberation struggle and the indomitable will of Kurdish women. Encircled by KDP peshmerga fighters in Xakurke, Bêrîtan refused the demand to surrender. She fought to the last bullet, then destroyed her weapon and jumped to her death from a cliff to avoid being captured. Her action has since been regarded as an example of determination against betrayal and the trigger for the autonomous organisation of Kurdish women within the PKK. Shortly after her death, the first steps were taken to establish a women's army.

GUERILLA ACTIONS IN ZAP

Regarding the guerrilla actions in the Zap region on 22 October, the HPG reported that a soldier was shot dead by a sniper unit in Sîda at 7.30 am. In the resistance area of Çemço, YJA Star fighters hit a military tent with heavy weapons at nine o'clock. The tent was destroyed and two soldiers were killed. At 4 pm, another YJA Star action killed two soldiers. At 4.30 pm, a Turkish army sniper was shot dead.

ACTION AT GIRÊ FM

At Girê FM, fighters from mobile guerrilla teams infiltrated a Turkish unit that was supposed to secure military road construction in the region. The guerrillas attacked from two sides at close range with hand grenades and light weapons, killing seven soldiers and injuring three others.

ACTION AT GIRÊ CUDÎ

At Girê Cûdî, guerrillas carried out a coordinated attack by three flanks on a military camp of the Turkish army early on Saturday morning. Five military tents were destroyed, nine soldiers killed and eight soldiers injured. When the occupation forces tried to intervene, they were attacked with heavy weapons and sniper tactics. While two more soldiers were killed here, another intervention in the area was repelled by YJA Star fighters.

In the morning, a soldier was shot dead by a female sniper of the YJA Star at Girê Cûdî. At Girê Amêdî, a military tent was destroyed with heavy weapons.

ACTION IN XAKURKE

Turkish troops were struck twice with heavy weapons at Girê Şehîd Şahan in Xakurke on Saturday. In one action by the YJA Star, a position was destroyed and three soldiers were killed.

ATTACKS BY THE TURKISH ARMY

Turkish fighter jets bombed the Çemço resistance area three times today. On Saturday, dozens of artillery attacks targeted Çemço, Saca, Girê FM and Girê Amêdî areas. In Karker, the Turkish army continues to try to destroy guerrilla positions with construction machinery.