HPG Makhmur-Kirkuk Command commemorated the five Self Defense Units members who lost their lives in the attack and offered condolences to their families and the people of Kurdistan.

“We will defend our people until the last drop of our blood is gone,” said the statement and called on the UN, Baghdad and Hewler administrations.

"REMEMBERING OUR MARTYRS"

The Command’s statement said: “On December 6, 2017 at 18:45, there was an aerial attack against the Makhmur Martyr Rüstem Cudi Camp. A Makhmur Self Defense Units position was targeted in this vile attack. Heroic fighters Botan (Cebrail Asutay), Baz (Gökhan Kırboğa), Çekdar (Muhammed Tekeş), Bager (Abdulkadir Günay) and Devran Mardin have been martyred in this cowardly attack. We bow before the struggle and the memory of our four friends in the person of comrade Botan who was a beacon of hard work, courage and sacrifice. We offer our condolences for the families of these heroic martyrs, the residents of Martyr Rüstem Cudi Camp and the patriotic people of Kurdistan.”

"COULDN’T STOMACH ISIS’ DEFEAT"

The HPG Command stressed that the attack was carried out by forces that couldn’t stomach ISIS’ defeat and pointed out the following:

“The Makhmur Self Defense Forces have been fighting the invasion attacks developed after the invasion of Mosul in 2014 by ISIS, the enemies of humanity and have stopped the ISIS monsters’ massacres. In the face of the Makhmur -Shengal-Kobanê resistances, ISIS gang networks had a big rupture. These heroic fighters who have waged a relentless struggle against the enemies of humanity, fascist-invading ISIS gang network, which Southern Kurdistan Government, Iraqi Central Government and regional and global countries couldn’t stand against, and the peoples’ resistance that started with the efforts and struggle of these heroic fighters has brought the ISIS gangs to the brink of elimination today. In the face of the resistance by these brave children of our people, the aerial attack on December 6 is a retaliation by forces that could not stomach the defeat of ISIS.

"ATTACK BY TURKISH COLONIALISM"

We undoubtedly see this vile attack as an attack by Turkish colonialism which supports ISIS gangs and is a derivative of them. This attack is an annihilation attack on the unbowing, resisting tradition of our patriotic people of Makhmur by Turkish colonialism. The fascist Turkish state is attempting to take the people of Makhmur captive with this treacherous attack, after expecting them to bow down, kneel and surrender for years and failing.”

"CALL FOR UN, HEWLER AND BAGHDAD"

The HPG statement also included a call for the UN, which the Makhmur camp is under protection of, Hewler and Baghdad administrations:

“Like the perpetrators of this fascist attack and those who have allowed this attack to come to pass and offered support are also responsible and guilty of this annihilation attack. We expect a convincing explanation for this attack that was carried out against the Makhmur Martyr Rüstem Cudi Camp, which is under UN protection and is located in the middle of Iraqi territory. If there is no collusion, then these powers should investigate how this fascist, aggressive and terrorist act came to pass. We are expecting an explanation to this end from the Iraqi Federal Kurdistan Government, the Iraqi Government and the United Nations to the people of Makhmur and all Kurdish people. We consider silence in the face of this attack as cooperating with the fascist Turkish colonialism.

"WE WILL DEFEND OUR PEOPLE"

As the Maxmur-Kirkuk Command, we repeat once again: The fascist Turkish colonialism and their supporters will not prevail with this fascist attack. Like the honorable and patriotic people of Makhmur resisted fascist Turkish colonialism in the 1990’s, today they will once again be relentless members of this resistance. As the HPG Makhmur -Kirkuk Command, we promise once again that we will defend our people until the last drop of our blood is gone, and we will crown the struggle of our martyred comrades with victory.”