The Press and Communication Center of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) announced continued chemical weapons operations by the Turkish army against guerrilla positions in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). According to a daily statement by the HPG on the war in the Zap and Avaşîn regions over the past two days, attacks with chemical agents are combined with air strikes as well as explosives and artillery fire. On several occasions, the guerrillas managed to push back the occupation forces in stages through effective resistance actions, in which three soldiers were killed.

At the Werxelê mountain massif in Avaşîn, YJA Star (Free Women’s Troops) guerrillas prevented a Turkish troop deployment by carrying out a guerrilla sabotage on Thursday. The same military units were later targeted again, this time with heavy weapons. During the retreat, Turkish soldiers fired five explosive charges against guerrilla defense positions.

Actions in Zap

Regarding the guerrilla actions in the Zap region on Wednesday, the statement reported two successful actions. In both the Kuro Jahro resistance area and Girê Şehîd Şahîn, Turkish troops attempted to attack the guerrillas' war positions. In both places, they faced "effective countermeasures" in the form of heavy shelling. In the course of this, the occupiers were pushed back.

About the actions carried out by guerrillas the day before, the HPG said:

“In the Karker resistance area, invading forces at the Girê Ortê defenses were targeted by our forces using sniper tactics. One occupier was punished.

In Şehîd Şahîn, attempts by the occupiers to attack the war positions in Şehîd Berxwedan with explosives were thwarted by guerrillas with heavy weapons fire. Drones circling over the area at the same time were also placed under fire and forced to retreat.

In the Çiyareş area, an attempt was made to approach our war positions at Girê Şehîd Sorxwîn. Our forces targeted the occupants and one of them was killed. Following the action, the battle area was bombarded by the invading forces.

In Kuro Jahro, a position in the vicinity of our positions was shelled with heavy weapons. The position was destroyed, and the death of one of the occupants inside was confirmed. At Girê Şehîd Şemdîn, YJA Star forces successfully engaged enemy troops moving in the area. The HPG pointed out that their guerrilla positions at Girê Şehîd Berxwedan were intensively bombed with chemical agents and explosives on Friday night.

Continued attacks by the Turkish army

In Zap, HPG recorded four airstrikes by the Turkish army on Thursday evening at the Girê Amediye and Girê FM hills. Shells fired from outposts on the Turkish border struck in Çemço and Sîda. There was also artillery fire from Turkish territory on Xakurke, where the Girê Şekîf was hit by attacks. In Metîna, the Girê Hakkarî, Girê Koordîne and Girê Azad hills as well as the surrounding areas of the villages of Dêşîşê, Seraro, Êdînê and Hiror were simultaneously bombed by Turkish attack helicopters and border guard troops with howitzers on Wednesday and Thursday.