Resistance continues unabated to the Turkish invasion of the guerrilla-held Medya Defence Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). According to the statement released by the Press Office of the People's Defence Forces (HPG) on Tuesday, at least 19 soldiers have been killed and others injured as a result of guerrilla actions in the past 48 hours.

"With great will, conviction, an Apoist spirit of sacrifice and courage, our forces carried out various actions and dealt heavy blows to the invaders, skillfully employing various tactics. The actions were dedicated to Taybet Inan, who was shot dead in the street by the Turkish army at the age of 57 during a curfew declared in the Silopi district of Şırnak in December 2015, and her daughter Heznê Inan. The 22-year-old died in February 2016 in one of the notorious "death basements of Cizre", also at the hands of the Turkish army. Her burnt and torn clothes were delivered to her family in three envelopes a few days ago. "As long as the genocidal colonial state of Turkey continues its inhuman attacks, the liberation struggle of our people will continue to grow. The Freedom Guerrilla of Kurdistan will take its historical responsibility in this struggle and bring the murderers to justice," stated the HPG.

The actions in Zap were carried out by mobile small groups of HPG and YJA Star (Free Women's Troops) in the Girê Amêdî and Girê Cûdî resistance areas. Such teams are more flexible in decision-making and tactics compared to normal armies and can move faster. A total of seven attacks on Turkish occupiers, each resulting in one death, were carried out by snipers.

Sixteen actions with medium weapons and heavy artillery were directed against both already established Turkish army positions and military units moving in open terrain and trying to reposition themselves. Three soldiers were killed when the guerrillas prevented an attempted advance from close range, and six others died in two attacks with hand grenades and small arms that were directed against dugouts still under construction.

According to the HPG, the guerrillas again sabotaged several planned troop reinforcements. In Girê Amêdî as well as in Girê Cûdî, the guerrillas hit helicopters with airborne troops on board and forced the aircraft to turn around by means of artillery fire. In the Xakurke region, the guerrillas carried out a sabotage action between the Girê Şehîd Derwêş and Girê Lêlikan hills two days ago. Three soldiers were killed and four others injured.

Regarding the latest attacks by the Turkish army, the statement said that fighter jets carried out seven air strikes on the Zap region on Monday. According to the statement, Girê Amêdî, Girê Bahar and places around the Great Zap were hit. Girê Amêdî and parts of Metîna were also bombed by attack helicopters. In addition, artillery attacks by ground forces hit various areas of Zap, Metîna and Xakurke.