Despite a ceasefire declared unilaterally by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the Turkish army continues to escalate their attacks on the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). According to the HPG balance sheet for March, the Turkish army carried out a total of 11,585 air and ground attacks against the guerrilla areas in northern Iraq.

The Press Center of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) announced that the occupying Turkish army continued to target guerrilla areas.

In a statement on Friday, the HPG Press Center said the following:

"Turkish army forces in Western Zap and Metîna continue their attacks against guerrilla forces. Between June 12 and 20, five attacks were carried out with high-explosive munitions, 45 attacks with drones loaded with explosives and chemical gas, 43 attacks with bulldozers and drilling equipment, and hundreds of attacks with heavy weapons, artillery, and howitzers against guerrilla positions and tunnels. Our guerrilla forces responded to these attacks within the framework of legitimate self-defense.

The details of the attacks carried out against our forces and the responses given are as follows:

Attacks carried out by the Turkish army:

On June 15, 17, and 19, our tunnels in the Girê Amediyê Resistance Area in the Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region were bombed five times with high-powered explosives.

Between June 12 and 18, our tunnels in the Girê Amediye Resistance Area in the Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region were bombed 23 times with explosive and chemical gas-laden drones.

Between June 11 and 14, our tunnels in the Şêlazê, Bêşîlî, and Dergelê Resistance Areas in the Metîna region were bombed 22 times with explosive-laden drones.

Between June 12 and 19, our tunnels in the Girê Amediye Resistance Area in the Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region were targeted 43 times with bulldozers and drilling equipment in an attempt to destroy them.

Between June 12 and 20, the areas of Şêlazê, Bêşîlî, Serê Metîna, Dergelê Resistance Areas in the Metîna region, Dêreşê, Girgaşê, Deşta Kafya, Mijê, Girê Kun, Girê Zengil, Zêvkê, Heftebax, Spîndarê areas in the Garê region, and the Girê Amediyê and Girê Bahar Resistance Areas in the Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region, as well as the Berê Zînê and Sinînê Resistance Areas in the Xakurkê region, were heavily bombed with heavy weapons, artillery, and howitzers.

Response by our forces:

On June 13, 15, 16, and 19, Turkish forces in an attack position in the Girê Amediyê Resistance Area in the Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region were struck by our YJA Star (Free Women’s Troops) forces. A drone of the Turkish army was shot down.

On June 16, 17, 18, and 19, Turkish forces in an attack position in the Girê Bahar Resistance Area in the Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region were struck by our YJA Star forces.

On June 12, 13, 14, and 16, Turkish forces in the Serê Metîna and Bêşîlî Resistance Areas in the Metîna region that were in attack position and making insulting calls to our forces were struck by our YJA Star forces. Three drones belonging to the Turkish army were shot down and two drones were seized.”