Guerrilla commander Şerda Mazlum Gabar, a member of the Central Command of the Free Women's Units (YJA Star), spoke about the war in Kurdistan in a special program on Medya Haber TV. She said that the struggle continues intensively in both the north and south of Kurdistan, from Dêrsim, Botan, Serhed and Mêrdîn in the north to the regions of Zap, Avaşîn, Xinêre, Heftanîn, Metîna, Garê and the Sergelê Line in the Medya Defense Areas.

Commander Şerda Mazlum Gabar said that the war in South Kurdistan has taken on a new dimension since 3 July, and added: "On 22 April, Erdoğan came to Iraq. An agreement was signed there. After that day, the collaboration and betrayal of the KDP became clearer. All routes to the combat zone were opened for the Turkish military."

Commander Gabar continued: "The enemy began to land everywhere. The war also intensified on the Xinêre line. The extent of the technology used exceeds the limits of anyone's imagination. The whole of Metîna is being bombed, not just the areas where there were guerrilla actions and battles. There are intensive air raids in the west of the Zap and on the Xakurkê-Xinêre line, in Qendîl and Garê. Kurdistan is in flames and has become a war zone. Just as the Turkish state began clearing villages in 1994, first in Botan and then throughout North Kurdistan, it is now trying to depopulate the villages in Southern Kurdistan. It is burning down villages. Colonization, occupation, annexation; a war of extermination is being waged."

Cutting the connection between guerrilla areas 

In the past, soldiers were dropped from helicopters directly over the guerrilla tunnels, said Şerda Mazlum Gabar, adding: "When the enemy realized that they could not bring down the tunnels, they landed further away and took over areas. For example, the Zergelê line was taken. They want to cut the connection between the areas where the guerrillas are. There is information about the attack on Xinêre. Now it is being discussed that after a certain time the KDP and Iraq will also be involved in this invasion attack, that they will take the Goşînê line and that Lolan will be occupied as a whole. The connections from Qendîl to Xinêre and Garê and from Garê to Metîna and Zap will be cut off. The population is also under great pressure. People are being expelled by force."

Agreement on Turkish military presence in Iraq

Commander Gabar also spoke about the "Memorandum of Understanding" agreed in August between Turkey and Iraq on the future cooperation between the two countries in the military, security and economic areas, saying that the Turkish state is holding on to its neo-Ottoman dreams and is targeting the Kirkuk oil region.

The memorandum provides, among other things, for the conversion of the Başîqa military base, which has been occupied by Turkey since 2015, into a joint training and cooperation center. "Iraq used to be against this Turkish base, but now it is being legitimized," said Commander Gabar, adding: "The Turkish presence in Başîqa means the invasion of Iraq. Mosul and Kirkuk can be easily occupied from Başîqa. According to the memorandum, it was said that a major operation was being organized. The real target is Garê. They want to put more pressure on Garê from Başîqa and direct the invasion in that direction."

What are the guerrillas doing?

When asked what the YJA Star and the People's Defense Forces HPG are doing in this situation, the commander replied: "The guerrillas are carrying out actions from the tunnels and with teams in the field and from the air. The enemy's plans are being thwarted in practice. That is why he has brought in mercenaries from Syria and is trying to involve the KDP and Iraq. He cannot compete with the guerrillas. 

Since 2019, the enemy has resorted to a method called decapitation: he is targeting those who can be described as leading cadres, commanders or living memory. This is to make the organization a little more brainless, without memory, as he himself says. We will not leave Kurdistan to them. They should not confuse us with the KDP.

We are the force responsible for preventing the annihilation of the Kurdish people. There are fundamental sources from which we draw our strength. That is why neither their weapons and their dirty methods, nor their collaborators and traitors, nor the states allied with them, can push the guerrillas back even one step. There is tremendous resistance."