The Turkish Air Force has bombed the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) 41 times since May 7, according to the latest statement of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) on the ongoing war in Kurdistan.

The statement by the press center of the HPG said: "The courageous resistance of the freedom guerrillas of Kurdistan continues. Our forces carried out actions on May 8 and 9 using many different tactics such as air defense, heavy weapons and close combat. The Turkish occupation forces, in their helplessness, bombed our resistance areas hundreds of times with howitzers and 41 times with fighter jets, but did not achieve any results. As a result, they have again resorted to cowardly methods and committed war crimes by massively using chemical weapons against our battle positions. Despite the dirty war methods of the Turkish colonial state, our forces continue to deal harsh blows to the occupants. In the actions of our forces, eight occupiers have been punished and nine others wounded. In addition, two camera surveillance systems, one photo trap and one motion detector were destroyed, and one enemy position was damaged."

HPG provided the following details of the actions by guerrillas:

Avaşîn

The Turkish army continues to try to capture the guerrilla positions on the Werxelê mountain massif. The guerrillas forced the invading forces to partially retreat several times by using heavy weapons and snipers on May 9; killing two soldiers and injuring five others. On the same day, the YJA Star (Free Women’s Troops) guerrillas destroyed a camera surveillance system, a photo trap and a motion detector installed by the Turkish army in the area. The Turkish army used chemical weapons.

Zap

On May 8, a soldier was shot dead by an HPG sniper at Girê Şehîd Harûn in the Kuro Jahro resistance area. Various other guerrilla actions took place on May 9, the details of which are as follows:

-The Turkish army bombed the Şehîd Berwedan positions in the Şehîd Şahîn resistance area between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. with chemical weapons and explosives and then tried to advance. The guerrillas intervened and fierce fighting ensued, leading to a partial withdrawal of the invading forces. A surveillance camera system was also destroyed by the guerrillas.

-The guerrillas intervened with heavy weapons against a Turkish military unit that attempted to attack the fighting positions in the Şehîd Şahîn resistance area with explosives. As a result, the unit had to retreat a short distance.

-Another guerrilla assault with heavy weapons took place in the Werxelê resistance area, and the number of soldiers killed or injured could not be determined.

-A soldier was shot dead by an HPG sniper at Girê Şehîd Cûdî in the Karker resistance area.

-At Kuro Jahro, a soldier was killed in a guerrilla action carried out with heavy weapons, and a Turkish position was damaged. A few hours later, an action by the Şehîd Delal Air Defense Forces killed three soldiers and wounded four others.

Continued attacks by the Turkish army

Between May 7 and May 10, the Turkish Air Force bombed the Avaşîn, Metîna and Zap regions 41 times. On May 9, 12 airstrikes hit the Gundê Fila, Girê Amediye, Girê FM and Girê Cûdî areas in the Zap region. Girê FM and Girê Cûdî were also bombed with howitzers from Turkish bases in the border area. The Saca, Karker, Ava Zapê, Girê Şehîd Fedakar, Şikefta Birîndara and Kuro Jahro areas were bombed 23 times by fighter jets on May 7, 8, 9 and 10, and the Çemço area was attacked with howitzers on May 8.

In Metîna, Turkish fighter jets bombed Girê Hakkarî four times on May 9, and there were also additional attacks with howitzers. The Werxelê resistance area in Avaşîn was attacked twice today from the air.

"No one should serve the enemy"

HPG further said that: "The Turkish occupying state wants to occupy every place in Kurdistan and exploit all values. Its current goal is to consolidate the occupation and exploitation in the Besta region in Botan by building a military road to the Mêrgûmar area. For this purpose, it uses counter forces and lets them cut down the trees in Mêrgûmar. No one should serve the hostile policy that leads to the occupation and exploitation of Kurdistan. We must refrain from destroying nature in Kurdistan. Counter forces that continue these crimes and serve the enemy become targets for us."