In its daily statement about the war in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq), the press center of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) reported nearly thirty chemical weapons attacks by the Turkish army in the past 24 hours. During the same period, more than sixty air strikes were recorded in different areas of the region, in addition to several hundred howitzer attacks. Eighteen members of the Turkish occupation forces were killed and five others were injured in guerrilla actions against the invasion.

Details related to the resistance in southern Kurdistan were listed by the HPG press center as follows:

AVAŞÎN

In Werxelê, guerrillas repelled on Thursday (May 26) several advance attempts by Turkish occupation forces from their defense positions with two acts of sabotage and shelling from close range. Three soldiers were killed and two were seriously wounded as a result of strikes by guerrilla forces. The guerrillas involved in the actions also seized an MPT-55 infantry rifle and a military headset. Helicopters deployed to the combat area for the purpose of recovering bodies were also targeted by guerrillas and forced to retreat. The Werxelê resistance area was attacked eleven times throughout the day with chemical warfare agents and explosive charges. 23 airstrikes were carried out in the region.

ZAP

A total of five sniper actions were carried out by guerrillas on May 25, each resulting in the death of one soldier. HPG snipers were in action at Kuro Jahro and in the Şehîd Şahîn area. In Şikefta Birîndara and at Girê FM, the guerrillas of the YJA Star (Free Women’s Troops) took action against the occupation forces. Thirteen chemical weapons attacks against guerrillas’ defense positions were recorded in Şehîd Hewrê, Şehîd Berxwedan and Şikefta Birîndara.

METÎNA

A combined action employing sabotage tactics and using hand grenades and light weapons was carried out by guerrillas in the Metîna region on Wednesday. The action took place at Girê Hakkarî and was directed against attempts by occupation forces to raise positions in the area surrounding the Şehîd Hejar battle positions. Eight soldiers were killed in the action and three others were injured.

Turkish attack helicopters were targeted by guerrillas with effective fire and forced to return. Later in the day, chemical agents were fired at Şehîd Hejar guerrilla positions in four waves of attacks. The unit of occupation forces included contras speaking the Behdînî dialect of Kurdish.

At Girê Ortê, Turkish troops attempted to position themselves in the Şehîd Agir Valley. The guerrillas intervened by means of sabotage actions that resulted in the death of two soldiers.

ATTACKS BY THE TURKISH ARMY

According to the HPG statement, Thursday's airstrikes targeted parts of the Zap, Gare and Metîna regions. Twenty-nine attacks alone were carried out on the areas of Çemço, Saca, Çiyareş, Şehîd Şemdîn, Kuro Jahro, Şehîd Şahin and Karker in Zap region. The areas were targeted by simultaneous artillery attacks from Turkish outposts on the border.

In Gare, the Xêrê and Deşta Kafya areas were shelled five times by fighter jets.

In Metîna, shells fired from border outposts hit the areas surrounding the villages of Êdinê and Seraro, as well as Girê Hakkarî, Girê Şehîd Viyan and Şehîd Şoreş. The areas of Girê Hakkarî and Şehîd Viyan were bombed by fighter jets six times in the same period.