Bager Erdal, HPG (People's Defense Forces) state commander of the Khakurk (Xakurkê) region, assessed the development of the Martyr Agirî and Şehîd Martyr offensive and the current situation in the war in the Bradost region for ANF.

"Due to some agreements, the Turkish state was allowed to occupy Southern Kurdistan. The regional government of Kurdistan knows about it. If it had not given their permission and some preliminary meetings hadn’t taken place, then they [Turkey] could not have started this invasion. The operation aims to destroy the PKK. But this is just an excuse, their real goal is the complete occupation of Kurdistan. They even want to cross the borders of the Misak-ı Millî [National Pact] and occupy many more places. Behind it are very dirty calculations. You have to know that and analyze it very well."

“We have started an offensive to end the occupation"

Commenting on the guerrilla offensive in Bradost, the HPG commander stated: "When the attacks on the Geliyê Reş area began, massive resistance was mounted under the command of Agirî Mazlum Pirdoğan. Comrade Agirî has sacrificed his life to defend Kurdistan against any form of occupation. He has contributed a lot to Bradost. We have launched an offensive to completely annihilate and throw out the occupying forces in Southern Kurdistan. On April 27, we launched the offensive Martyr Agirî and Martyr Pîroz. No doubt the offensive will not be limited to the Lelikan region, it will go on and on."

Heavy losses for the Turkish military at Lelikan

Concerning the guerrilla action in Lelikan, Erdal said: "With our recent actions we were able to achieve very important results, because behind these actions stood the spirit of resistance of Heval Agirî. Heval Serdem also fell in action. He followed the example of Heval Agirîs and fought for victory until the last moment. He had insisted on being in the front line. The Lelikan campaign was successful in every way. The Turkish military suffered heavy casualties and fired artillery at random. Because the weather was rainy, no reconnaissance aircraft could take off. They bombed the area with fighter jets, but could not get any results. The Turkish military had no more options. To keep it morale, they mobilized the fighter jets. "

"We will never accept the occupation of Southern Kurdistan by the Turkish state"

Erdal also announced that the actions against the Turkish state are neither the first nor the last: "In various offensives our actions will continue. We will continue our actions in the spirit of Şehîd Agirîs. We will never accept the occupation of Southern Kurdistan by the Turkish state. We will not allow the Turkish state to feel safe on Kurdish soil.”

According to Erdal, the Turkish state suffered heavy losses in Lelikan and Kevorte. "As a result of effective guerrilla actions, the Turkish state keeps bombing the region, but it is still unable to produce results. This shows in what a difficult situation the enemy is. Despite its technical superiority, the Turkish state is helpless against the guerrilla. The soldiers trust in their technical superiority. But after the guerrillas have shown that this technical superiority is of no use to them, they cannot go one step further."

"They want to separate us from the population"

Erdal emphasized that as guerrillas of Kurdistan they will always be on the side of the population of Bradost: "The people of Bradost should not rate this occupation as an operation against the PKK. Bradost is the traditional soil of our population, they have been living here for millennia. The population should not leave the region despite all the attacks. The goal of the enemy is to occupy Kurdistan.

Our people in Bradost should know that we will always defend them. Our actions have strengthened the morale of the population. After these actions, the Turkish military has threatened our people, saying ‘If you support the PKK, then we will bomb your houses'. The Turkish military intends to use these threats to intimidate the people of Bradost and remove them away from us. As the guerrilla, we will do everything we can for the interests of our people."