According to the People's Defence Forces (HPG), Turkey has significantly intensified its attacks on the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) with chemical warfare agents in recent days. This included about 32 chemical weapons attacks in parts of Zap and Metîna on Sunday, said the HPG press office's daily statement about the war in the region. In parallel, massive air and ground attacks were recorded.

The HPG statement on Monday said: "Ignored by the world public, the Turkish occupying state is using internationally outlawed weapons and substances against the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla, which is the only force resisting the invasion of southern Kurdistan. The fact that these war crimes do not provoke any reaction, precisely despite evidence of the use of chemical weapons, is tantamount to support for the occupying state of Turkey. Encouraged by this ignorance, the Turkish army is intensifying its attacks with banned weapons and agents. The desire to crush the guerrillas in this way, the only defence force of the Kurdish people's achievements, is also an indication that the completion of the genocide against the Kurds is approved by all hegemonic powers."

According to the HPG statement, Sunday's chemical attacks targeted guerrilla defence positions in the areas of Çemço, Sîda, Saca, Şikefta Birîndara and Girê FM in Zap, and Girê Cûdî in Metîna. Throughout the day, 34 airstrikes were carried out by attack helicopters, and the Sîda area was simultaneously bombarded with artillery shells by Turkish outposts on the border. In Şikefta Birîndara, occupation forces repeatedly attempted to demolish the guerrillas' defensive positions and underground tunnels with excavator vehicles.

But despite chemical weapons and air strikes by the Turkish army, the guerrillas continue to resist the invasion of Southern Kurdistan. In Çemço, a soldier was shot dead by an HPG sniper on Sunday, and in Sîda, three advances by the occupying forces were pushed back by successful interventions. Guerrillas carried out sabotage actions at the defensive positions "Şehîd Felat" and "Şehîd Agir". At the latter position, guerrillas also advanced by means of close-range shelling. On Monday morning, another soldier was shot dead, this time in the resistance area "Şehîd Adil". The soldier belonged to a unit of airborne troops moving in the area around Çemço. Earlier on Sunday, a Turkish drone was shot down in Metîna, which had been brought into the air for military aerial reconnaissance over the Girê Amêdî.