The Media and Communication Centre of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) issued a statement providing the latest information about the war in the Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

According to the statement, 25 members of the Turkish occupation forces were killed in retaliatory actions against the invasion operation in southern Kurdistan between 14 and 17 June, including a senior officer of the Turkish army. During the same period, HPG recorded nineteen Turkish attacks against the guerrillas' tunnel facilities using explosives and chemical weapons. Another 43 attacks were carried out by Turkish fighter jets and helicopters against defensive positions.

HPG pointed out that the latest actions took place in memory of Sema Yüce. The Kurdish woman set herself on fire in a prison cell in Çanakkale on 21 March 1998 in protest against the attempted assassination of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and in solidarity with the self-immolations of many PKK prisoners in Turkish custody. She succumbed to her severe injuries on 17 June 1998.

On 14 June, occupation troops in Xakurke were struck by guerrillas with heavy weapons. The action by guerrillas of YJA Star (Free Women's Troops) at Girê Karker left two soldiers dead. One day later, five occupiers were killed in a guerrilla sabotage in the Şûkê area of Avaşîn. The vehicle hit was an Amarok military off-road vehicle, which was completely destroyed in the action.

In the region of Zap, guerrillas have struck the Turkish forces several times since yesterday. On Thursday night, two attack helicopters on attack flights against the resistance area of Karker were targeted by guerrillas and forced to return. During the day, the guerrillas in the area of Şehîd Şahîn went on the offensive three times with heavy weapons and pushed back occupation troops in the surrounding area of the resistance massif. YJA Star snipers carried out four actions in the Karker area and a total of four occupiers were shot dead.

A senior officer in the Turkish army was killed two days ago by an HPG sniper at Girê FM in the Metîna region. On the same hill yesterday, the guerrillas destroyed a surveillance system installed by the Turkish military. This was later followed by a targeted action which left one soldier dead.

Clashes in the Girê Cûdî resistance area continued on Thursday. According to the HPG, the fighting was triggered by attempts by the Turkish occupation forces to build military positions around the massif. six occupiers were shot dead in several sniper actions at Girê Şehîd Kendal, Girê Şehîd Şîlan and Girê Şehîd Çekdar.  On the Şehîd Çekdar hill, strikes by guerrilla snipers left three soldiers dead and another injured. While the invaders then fled into the open, one of them was fatally shot by a sniper.

On Friday morning, the guerrillas at Girê Şehîd Çekdar managed to locate a Turkish army sniper. Both the sniper and another soldier were killed.