The Peoples’ Defence Forces (HPG) announced the balance sheet for the period of inaction, when the Turkish army targeted the Medya Defence Zones 4848 times with ground and aerial attacks, 224 times with cannons containing phosphorus, banned bombs and chemical weapons.

The balance sheet released by HPG Press Center on Wednesday said:

“In a statement on February 9, 2023, our KCK Executive Council Co-Presidency announced to the public its decision of inaction. Our People's Defence Centre (HSM) Headquarters Command published a statement on February 11, 2023, saying that ‘we will fulfil our responsibility by complying with the decision and perspective of the political will of our people and revolution. Our forces in the metropolitan and rural areas abided by this decision for more than four months, from February 9 to June 13’.”

'32 COMRADES MARTYRED'

The statement continued: “However, the fascist regime, filled with hatred against the Kurds and greed for power, did not pay regard to the inaction of our forces in any way. On the contrary, it has continued its attacks by organizing large-scale operations. It launched large-scale operations especially in the provinces of Dersim, Botan, Mardin, Hakkari, Van, Serhed and Amed in Bakure (North) Kurdistan. 22 comrades were martyred in North Kurdistan between February 9 and June 13: Yaşar (Osman Manak), Canşêr (Musa Miromilan), Deniz (Ali Akdoğan), Egîd (Ishak Çekin), Raperîn (Dicle Ömer), Rêvan (Peyam Demir), Botan (Mahmut Tekin), Alişêr (Emrah Arpak), Xebatkar (Musa Kahraman), Hêjar (Sevilay Akyıldırım), Bager (Orhan Kalabalık), Ekin (Nuran Altunmakas), Rosîda (Belgin Güven), Dilgeş (Serhat Yalçın), Bawer (Murat Aslan), Dilşêr (Mehmet Şakir Alici), Bawer (Dicle Yemen), Şerger (Servet Hesen), Rênçber (Hasan Ağırman), Zin (Dilan Gökalp), Mahsum (Vedat Ayhan) and patriotic Lokman Görgün were martyred. 10 other comrades were martyred in the Medya Defence Zones and Bashure (South) Kurdistan: Mazlum (Osman Üzen), Sinan (Fehmi Öğmen), Mazlum (Mehmet Salih Çakal), Ararat (Ahmed Muhammed), Koçer (Mehmet Salih Erdal), Botan (Bilal Mihemed), Viyan (Serkeftin Demir), Botan (Adil Eli) Bawer (Ahmet İlhan) and Canşêr (Basil Ahmet).

While the invading Turkish state continues its attacks in Bakure Kurdistan by conducting large-scale operations, it has continuously bombed the Medya Defence Zones with ground and aerial attacks. The Medya Defence Zones were bombed 373 times by fighter jets, 139 times by attack helicopters, 4336 times by howitzers, tanks and heavy weapons. The Turkish army attacked our positions in the Resistance Areas 224 times with phosphorus-containing cannons, banned bombs and chemical weapons. It also took action with heavy construction equipment to demolish our positions.

Although our forces abided by the inaction in Bakur and the Medya Defense Zones, 237 clashes took place between our forces and the invaders. While 84 members of the occupation forces were killed, 3 others were injured, and 1 counter-guerrilla was killed.

Despite our movement's decision of inaction, this is the result caused by the intensified attacks of the genocidal and colonialist Turkish state for the last four months. All these attacks by the Turkish army have rendered our movement's decision of inaction and the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla's compliance with it meaningless and invalid. Undoubtedly, the fascist AKP-MHP regime, which uses the deaths suffered in this war to maintain its power, and its fascist policy bear the sole responsibility for this outcome.

The Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla will continue its struggle to protect our people’s existence and ensure their freedom with the Apoist self-sacrificing spirit, adhering to the line of martyrs.”