While the AKP's attacks on the Zap, Metîna and Avaşîn regions in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) continue in cooperation with the ruling KDP, Haki Armanc, one of the commanders of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) headquarters, spoke to ANF on the developments in the region. Armanc pointed out that Turkish troops in the Zap region cannot advance by land: "Every time they hear a gunshot, they evade. They are weakened and devastated. One wonders how they are going to get out again."

The Turkish invasion began with massive air strikes on 14 April, Armanc recalled and continued: "On 17 April, the ground operation in Zap began. The attack on southern Kurdistan is based on the Misak-i Milli (National Pact). Turkey wants to use the war between Russia and Ukraine as an opportunity for its expansionism. The AKP is carrying out attacks to maintain its own power. Erdogan is spending all the resources of the Turkish state and people to maintain his power, but the military operation is fruitless. Our forces have resisted and stopped the operation with many successful actions. The Turkish state is currently experiencing a blockade, especially at Kurojahro."

"We have the evidence"

Regarding the helicopters shot down by the guerrillas, Armanc said: "Our friends have collected the ID cards of killed soldiers. The number of dead is openly on the table, but nobody admits these facts. No journalist or intellectual in Turkey asks about these facts. No one asks about the whereabouts of the soldiers who die in the battles. The fascist Turkish state has made its citizens deaf and blind. Nobody asks what is happening in the war. The Turkish state does not even admit the death of its soldiers. This is a part of psychological warfare. Many soldiers have been airdropped by helicopter, but the guerrillas have been here for a long time. No one asks what happened to these soldiers. We have documented everything; the soldiers who died, the helicopters that crashed or were damaged. We have proof of everything, but no TV station shows these documents, no newspaper writes about it. This is how the Turkish leadership keeps this war going. It lies that the operation has been successful in order to prolong the war."

"The guerrillas are protecting the achievements of the people"

Armanc said that Turkey was continuing its attacks with chemical and technical weapons: "Our people should know that we will stop the enemy. They will be destroyed. Everything points to what will happen. The enemy wants to prolong this war with fear and terror. Our people should do their part and rise up. We are facing an attack that lacks morals and principles. The guerrillas are protecting the gains of the people. They are sacrificing themselves and doing everything for it."