The press center of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) released a statement providing information about the current state of the war in the guerrilla-controlled Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

The Turkish army extended its invasion in Southern Kurdistan last night, said the HPG statement released on Thursday, which further includes the following:

"The Turkish occupation forces are stuck east of the Zap River and do not achieve their desired result. On May 24, the Turkish army suffered heavy losses in the revolutionary retaliatory operations of our forces and on the night of May 25, it expanded its occupation operation through increased use of chemical weapons and war technology. Occupation forces were airdropped from helicopters in the Girê Cûdî and Girê FM areas west of Zap and at Girê Hakkarî in Metîna. This is to take the operation, which was unsuccessful in the first phase, to another level with a new wave of attacks. In the last three days, thousands of attacks with howitzers, 118 air attacks with fighter jets and 52 attacks with chemical weapons and explosives have been carried out against the resistance areas. In the actions carried out by our forces against the occupation forces, 13 occupants were punished and one drone and one position were destroyed. One attack helicopter, three Sikorsky helicopters and one position were hit and damaged."

Regarding the details in the different regions, HPG provided the following information:

Avaşîn

On May 23, guerrillas destroyed a Turkish military position at the Werxelê mountain range. On May 24, guerrillas targeted a Turkish unit that attempted to use chemical weapons and explosives against a guerrilla position. The unit was forced to partially retreat. On the same day, one soldier was killed in another guerrilla action, after which the guerrilla positions were attacked four times with chemical weapons and explosives. On May 25, eleven more chemical weapons attacks were carried out by the Turkish army.

Zap

In the Kuro Jahro resistance area, guerrillas used sabotage tactics and firearms to stop an advance by Turkish troops on May 24. Massive fighting ensued, and the occupation forces were repulsed. Another action by the guerrillas was carried out with heavy weapons.

In the resistance area of Şikefta Birîndara, three soldiers were killed and a Turkish army position damaged on May 24. In the evening, the guerrillas fired on helicopters; one attack helicopter and one transport helicopter were hit and had to turn around. Attack helicopters were also forced to retreat at Girê Rûbar. The guerrilla positions of Şikefta Birîndara and Şehîd Berxwedan were attacked five times by the Turkish army on May 24 with a combination of chemical agents and explosives.

On May 25, a soldier was shot dead by an HPG sniper at Girê Berxwedan. The Şehîd Tolhildan guerrilla position at Kuro Jahro was attacked six times by the Turkish army with chemical weapons and explosives, followed by an advance that was stopped by the guerrillas, first by an act of sabotage and then with firearms and hand grenades. Fierce fighting ensued, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers.

On the same day, a soldier was killed in an act of sabotage at Girê Cehennem in the Çiyareş area, and a drone loaded with explosives was shot down over Şikeftan Birîndara. At Girê Şehîd Şahîn, guerrillas with heavy weapons hit the soldiers attempting to carry out blasts at a guerrilla position. The soldiers retreated as a result.

The areas of Şehîd Berxwedan and Şikefta Birîndara were attacked 26 times with chemical weapons and explosives on Wednesday. Turkish fighter jets carried out 14 airstrikes on Girê Cûdî between 8 p.m. and midnight. At 10 p.m., helicopters bombed the area. At 11 p.m., the guerrillas fired on the attack helicopters. At 11:10 p.m., the guerrillas intervened against an airdropping mission. Troops were airdropped eleven times at Girê Cûdî last night. Two transport helicopters were hit by the guerrillas and had to leave the area without dropping off soldiers.

Girê FM and Girê Bahar were bombed five times each by fighter jets on Wednesday evening. At 3:30 a.m. today, the guerrillas struck two groups of the occupation forces at Girê FM with firearms, and fighting broke out. The attacked groups spoke Kurdish among themselves. Detailed information on the dead and injured is to be provided at a later date.

The Girê Amêdî was bombed ten times by Turkish fighter jets between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Wednesday, and four more airstrikes took place between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. today. The area was overflown by drones until the morning.

Metîna

The Girê Hakkarî came under artillery fire from Turkish border guards from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Between 6 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., 16 airstrikes were carried out by fighter jets. Combat helicopters bombed the area indiscriminately from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Troops were airdropped from helicopters ten times during the night. The guerrillas carried out two actions of sabotage against the airdropped troops, killing three soldiers. At 4:55 a.m. today, another soldier was killed in a guerrilla action carried out with heavy weapons. At 5 a.m., the guerrillas hit a Turkish unit with firearms. Fighting in the area continues.

The area surrounding the villages of Êdînê and Seraro was shelled by the Turkish troops with howitzers on Wednesday evening. Six airstrikes were carried out in the vicinity of the village of Şêlazê and at Girê Şehîd Piling. Helicopter movements took place over the Qaşûra area. Troops were dropped from a transport helicopter in the Koordine area.

Further air and ground attacks by the Turkish army

On May 24, the areas of Çiyareş, Şehîd Şemdîn, Kuro Jahro, Şehîd Dîdar, Karker, Saca, Girê Cûdî, Girê Bahar, Girê Amediye and Girê FM in the Zap region were bombed 23 times by fighter jets, with additional attacks by howitzers and attack helicopters. The areas of Girê Ortê, Girê Şehîd Agir, Girê Azad and Girê Hakkarî in Metîna were bombed nine times by fighter jets and subjected to artillery fire on the same day. Seven airstrikes were conducted on the Werxelê resistance area.

On May 25, HPG recorded 19 airstrikes with fighter jets and additional attacks with helicopters and howitzers on the areas of Çemço, Kela Çemço, Sîda, Çiyareş, Karker, Şikefta Birîndara, Girê Rûbar, Şehîd Tolhildan, Şehîd Şahîn and Şehîd Berxwedan in Zap. In Xakurke, the Girê Şekîf and Geliyê Lolan areas came under artillery fire from Turkish border outposts.