The press and communication centre of the People's Defence Forces (HPG) released a statement providing latest information about the war in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) where the Turkish army has been conducting an invasion operation in the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones since mid-April.

According to the statement, a Turkish army combat drone was shot down in the Zap region on Thursday evening during an attack flight on the war positions "Şehîd Adil". The bombing of the guerrilla area was thwarted by the successful shooting down of the drone. Earlier, guerrillas of the HPG and YJA Star (Free Women’s Troops) in Zap prevented an explosive attack in the Şikefta Birîndara resistance area by using hand grenades and forced the Turkish occupation forces to retreat.

The HPG statement also included details of further guerrilla actions against Turkish invasion on Thursday. Accordingly, mobile units in Xakurke carried out a coordinated action against occupiers in the Şekîf area. The action, in which the tactics of "sniper deployment and close-range lightning attack" were combined, was directed against Turkish military personnel in the outskirts of Girê Şehîd Kamuran. The death of four soldiers was safely ascertained, and three others were injured.

Girê Cûdî remains heavily contested

At the Girê Cûdî massif in Metîna, Turkish occupation forces again tried to break through the guerrillas' defensive front. The HPG and YJA Star intervened with various means of combat. Snipers from YJA Star carried out three actions, each killing one soldier, while heavy weapons were used in another action. The planting of explosive charges at the defence summit was stopped by guerrillas by heavy shelling. The TNT subsequently seized here was destroyed and one soldier was killed.

Fierce fighting at Girê Amêdî

More actions by guerrillas were at Girê Amêdî. Three occupiers were killed in the course of a guerrilla sabotage and another was killed in a sniper action. Last night, a landmine laid by occupation forces in the resistance area was discovered and detonated in a controlled manner. Fighting broke out shortly afterwards, which initially prevented a total of three advance attempts by the Turkish army. On Friday morning, the occupiers launched two more attempts to approach the resistance massif. A YJA Star unit struck the Turkish forces with hand grenades and light and heavy weapons, killing one soldier. Two other military personnel were killed in a combined action of sniper attacks and sabotage.

Chemical weapons use by the Turkish army

According to the HPG, the Turkish army continues to use chemical weapons against the guerrillas' defences in Southern Kurdistan. According to the information, the main target areas of these continued war crimes, which are accompanied by heavy artillery and bomb attacks, are mainly the regions of Zap and Metîna. On Thursday alone, the HPG press office recorded twenty such combined attacks on Girê Amêdî and Girê Cûdî alone. Girê Hekarî was attacked with chemical weapons on Friday.

Forest fires due to massive airstrikes

Seven airstrikes by fighter jets were recorded in the areas of Çemço, Sîda and Saca the previous day. Forest and wildfires broke out in several places and are still ongoing. Another 36 bombardments by combat helicopters took place yesterday in the areas around Kurojahro, Girê Hekarî and Girê Amêdî. Artillery shells fired from Turkish outposts on the border hit Werxelê and Çemço at the same time. The HPG also pointed out that intensive reconnaissance flights were observed over the strategic peaks of Girê Hekarî, Girê FM and Girê Amêdî.