The People’s Defense Center Headquarters (HSMKK) released its 2024 annual report, highlighting the achievements of the HPG and YJA-Star forces.

Closing 2023 with revolutionary offensives that shook enemy strongholds, inspired by Martyrs Rojhat and Erdal, the guerrillas entered 2024 with great resolve and motivation for victory. Always emphasizing that their struggle centers on the physical freedom of Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan], the freedom guerrillas carried out successful actions throughout the year.

Despite a decade of relentless warfare waged by Turkey’s total annihilation strategy and heinous war crimes, the guerrillas demonstrated superior performance in 2024.

With tactical maneuvers adapted to seasonal conditions, HPG and YJA-Star forces not only acted as an unbreakable wall against the Turkish army but succeeded in decisively breaking its power.

The revolutionary offensives, initiated in late 2023 and gaining momentum through the spring of 2024, vividly demonstrated the guerrillas’ combat effectiveness and unwavering commitment to resistance. These operations, recorded on film during clashes and widely shared to show the reality of the war in Kurdistan, had a profound impact on the public.

The destruction of Turkish drone operations during Newroz bolstered the morale of the Kurdish people while instilling fear in Turkey's fascist regime. The guerrillas’ ability to turn minimal resources into significant opportunities in defending Kurdistan reached its zenith in 2024. Leader Apo’s statement, "The greatest technique is the human spirit," served as a defiant challenge, shaking the enemy’s belief in its technological superiority. 

Summer 2024: legendary resistance and epic advances

The summer saw unified resistance and an unprecedented wave of action across guerrilla zones from Bakur (North Kurdistan) to Başûr (South Kurdistan). A legendary struggle was that of Bakur, which exposed the lies of the Turkish fascist state. Under the leadership of martyrs like Edessa Cejna, Bêrîtan Nurhaq Çiya, Şexmus Melezgirt, Berwar, and Mehmet Cudî, guerrilla resistance was carried out in regions such as Dersim, Botan, Mêrdîn, and Serhed. Despite Turkish propaganda claiming that the guerrillas had been eradicated from Bakur, over 1,000 Turkish military operations in the region in 2024 revealed the continued presence and strength of resistance. Seasoned commanders and young fighters alike displayed unyielding determination, inspiring and leading the people’s struggle.

Historic summer in Medya Defense Zones

The Medya Defense Zones witnessed another notable tactical escalation during the summer. Zap, an enduring symbol of resistance for three years, continued to act as an impenetrable barrier protecting Kurdistan’s lands. The Freedom Guerrillas, led by Martyrs Alan Milazgirt and Dr. Sara Tolhıldan, carried out important actions. In 2024, actions by air saw significant development, with 99 air operations conducted under the leadership of the Martyr Doğan Zınar and Martyr Axîn Muş units.

Action in Ankara

One of the most unforgettable actions of the autumn occurred at TUSAŞ in Ankara. The action was carried out by Fedai (Self-Sacrificing) fighters Asya Ali and Rojger Helin. The operation, striking its target amidst the political turmoil in Turkey, reaffirmed the strength of guerrilla resistance.

2024: Paving the way for 2025’s victory

As 2024 drew to a close, the freedom guerrillas, conducting cohesive resistance across all regions of Kurdistan and Turkey’s cities, had laid a solid foundation for a victorious campaign in 2025. Determined to build on their tactical advances, the guerrillas remain resolute in achieving ultimate victory in the coming year.