The military offensives launched by the Turkish army against Avashin, Metina and Zap in the Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) have been continuing. Although supported by air strikes, the Turkish army suffers great losses in the face of guerrilla resistance. Unable to resist the guerrilla, the army is bombing civilian areas with air strikes.

Duhok University academic and politician Kamiran Berwari spoke to ANF about the attacks on South Kurdistan (Bashur).

"The Turkish army wanted to to make up for its defeats in Heftanin and Gare by attacking the Medya Defense Zones" Berwari said, adding, "It is also remarkable that these attacks were kicked off on the anniversary of the Armenian genocide. The Turkish state knew that the USA would recognize the Armenian genocide, so the USA gave the green light to the attacks."

TURKISH ARMY DEFEATED BY THE GUERRILLA

Berwari emphasized that the Turkish state is trying to occupy areas from Xabur to Avashin, Zap and Metina. "This region is approximately 100 km. Turkey has been preparing for a long time to occupy this region. Some of these invaders comprise of village guards, some collaborators in Bashur and mercenaries brought from Syria, and the number of these gangs is about 400-500. They want to attack and invade Bashur lands. The Turkish state is reported to have used chemical weapons twice in the region," he noted.

The Kurdish politician revealed that the Turkish state aims to occupy 12 strategic regions; "Turkey wants to disconnect the guerrilla by occupying the region from the Berwari line to the Dosky line. Undoubtedly, the Turkish army has been defeated by the guerrilla in military terms. Turkey’s reputation was shattered in Heftanin and Gare. Turkey is no longer regarded as the second strongest army of NATO. Turkey cannot easily occupy a region, nor can it easily withdraw from places it targets.”

TIME TO FREE ABDULLAH ÖCALAN

Berwari pointed out that the people of the South Kurdistan uphold the ideas and philosophy of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan. "The people of Bashur accept the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) model and support the guerrilla of freedom. In four parts of Kurdistan and in many parts of the world, guerrilla forces are seen as revolutionary and defense forces of Kurdistan. The people of Bashur also endorse the guerrilla. Therefore, it is now time to free Abdullah Öcalan and remove the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) from the terror list.”

The Kurdish academic expressed that everyone in Bashur, except a group of collaborators, sees the occupation of the Turkish state as a Kurdish genocide. "If we want to prevent the invasion of Bashur, we must unite. The KNK (Kurdistan National Congress) has been fighting for this for years. Currently, dozens of institutions and organizations from the KNK have come together and work for unity. This is a golden opportunity for the government of South Kurdistan, the President of the KRG and the Ministry of Peshmerga. The Bashur government must take a stand against the occupation and an official statement must be for the leave of the invaders from the lands of Bashur. The people should also react to it. The government should not be an obstacle to the will of the people. This is an important role and duty for the Kurdistan regional government.”

EVERYONE SHOULD CLAIM SHENGAL

Pointing to the dangers against Shengal, Berwari recalled that Shengal has always been the target of the Turkish state, Iraqi and regional forces. He continued, “Their main goal is to destroy the gains of the Kurds. There are three historic phases here. The first phase is to break the will of the people of Shengal, the second is to destroy the gains of Rojava and the third is to destroy the gains of all Kurds and put the Kurdish people through genocide. Therefore, all Kurdistan parties, forces and people should protect Shengal and support its people. There are democracy, unity and human rights only in two regions in the Middle East today. These regions are Rojava and Shengal. Because the Democratic Confederalism Model is a model of democratic coexistence.”

"World countries are going through great crises. Europe is going through a social, political and economic crisis. It wants to resolve these problems in the Middle East and Kurdistan. Russia is experiencing a great crisis. Although it has nothing to do with the Middle East, it seeks to resolve its problems in Syria. Worried about its future, Israel is providing arms to keep Turkey upright and thus to weaken the Kurdistan freedom movement. All forces against Kurdistan are united in Kurdistan territory and support each other. These countries want to eliminate the Democratic Confederalism Model in Kurdistan. However, there are 60 million Kurds against these forces, who protect this country and the Kurdistan freedom movement. If Kurdish politicians get united, they can frustrate all invasion attacks and plans. Collaborators in Bashur who support the occupation have also been exposed. For them, there are two ways. They will either leave Rojava, Shengal and Bashur to Turkey, or they will carry out a national, democratic and peaceful work, " Berwari concluded.