HPG (People's Defense Forces) Press Centre released a statement regarding the clashes with Turkish troops in the countryside of Mardin and Hakkari provinces.

HPG gave the following detailed information about the operations launched by the Turkish army in Mardin's Nusaybin district on March 20.

On 12 January, Turkish troops launched an operation in and around Evsê and Erbo villages of Nusaybin. This operation has been withdrawn in an inconclusive manner.

On February 20, contras wearing guerrilla clothing in Nusaybin's Badibê, Sêderiyê, Xırbê Mışka villages and the surrounding villages have developed mobility for a certain period of time.

On March 15, Turkish soldiers detained two civilians from the villages of Marinê and Xirbê of Nusaybin and threatened the villagers. Soldiers dug ditches between these villages.

On 20 March, Turkish soldiers started an operation in the vast territory around Hêrinê, Evsê, Erbo, Sêderiyê, Hebabê, Badibê, Xirbe Mışka, Marinê, Sırıncık and Gıremira villages of Nusaybin after they had been declared banned. In the afternoon, at 14:30, the operation was extended to the strategic hills in the Martyr Felat, Martyr Mervan and Martyr Reşo areas, supported by reconnaissance planes and Cobra type helicopters.

On March 21, at 15:15, an arm of the operation was hit by HPG forces at close range while this operation was trying to progress by searching and scanning throughout the Bagok area.

In this action which turned to clashes, HPG guerrilla Dijwar fell as martyr, while another guerrilla named Bahtiyar was wounded and martyred whilst fighting until the last bullet.

Guerrilla forces have organized an effective action against the JÖHs (Gendarmerie Special Operations) positioned on the top of Martyr Nihat hill on March 22nd. One position and one tent was effectively shot and 3 JÖH members were killed here. This operation was withdrawn on March 25th.

HPG warned that: “In Mardin, many agents are sent to the surrounding lands by Turkish gangs in order to gather information and location on the under the guise of hunting. Against the mobility developed in the name of hunting in these areas, our people should be sensitive and should not go to the area under the name of hunting.”

HPG statement continued, providing information about an action guerrillas carried out against Bezokê outpost in the Şemzinan district of Hakkari on March 27.

"At 07.00 am, when our forces were approaching the outpost, they noticed a secret unit of the enemy. Our forces have put this secret unit under strict supervision until 1 pm and carried out an infiltration action. The secret unit has been shot with RPG-7 weapons and individual weapons in these actions. Three soldiers were killed here.

Also, when another nearby unit of the enemy tried to intervene, 7 soldiers were killed and 1 soldier was wounded after our forces hit the unit effectively with heavy and individual weapons.

In addition, the fighting with Turkish army soldiers in the field continued for about half an hour. In these clashes, the number of dead and wounded soldiers could not be clarified.

During the withdrawal of our forces, a guerrilla lost contact with the rest of the group. After the action, the surrounding outposts bombarded the area with howitzers and mortars until night time."

HPG gave the following ID details of the two guerrillas martyred during clashes in Mardin:

Nom de Guerre: Bahtiyar Eriş

Name Surname: Serkan Alpsar

Place of Birth: Hakkari

Mother - Father Name: Fatma- Adil

Date and Place of Martyrdom: March 21, 2016/ Mardin

***

Nom de Guerre: Dijwar Herekol

Name Surname: Ali Burak Sayar

Place of Birth: Siirt

Mother - Father Name:Serfıraz- Hasan

Date and Place of Martyrdom: March 21, 2017/ Mardin