In its daily statement on the war in Kurdistan, the press centre of the People's Defence Forces (HPG) reported guerrilla actions in Botan, Zap and Metîna. On Wednesday, guerrilla resistance against the Turkish invasion in Southern Kurdistan claimed the lives of nine soldiers of the occupying forces, and one enemy position was destroyed. The Turkish army continued to use chemical weapons, fighter jets, helicopters and howitzers in its aggression against guerrilla areas.

Two guerrillas martyred in Botan

Two guerrilla fighters were martyred on Mount Cudi in Northern Kurdistan, stated the HPG. According to the report, the guerrillas hit a Turkish military unit near the village of Serdehlê on 7 September. Several soldiers were killed and injured during the course of the action, and the dead and wounded were transported away by military helicopters. On the Mistê Elî slope, there was a battle between guerrillas and the Turkish army, and the area was bombed. "Our companions Ezda and Mahir fought bravely in the battle and under the bombardment until their last breath and fell as martyrs," said the HPG. Both martyrs stayed at the Cûdî for a long time and put up great resistance.

The HPG gave the following information on the identity of the fallen guerrillas:

Nom de Guerre: Ezda Meşkan First-Last Name: Şehla Tekin Birthplace: Hakkari Mother's-Father's Name: Zehra – Mehmet Fehim Date and Place of Martyrdom: 7 September 2022 / Cûdî

 

Nom de Guerre: Mahir Başkale First-Last Name: Emrah Duman Birthplace: Van Mother's-Father's Name: Nezire – Remzi Date and Place of Martyrdom: 7 September 2022 / Cûdî

 

Ezda Meşkan

Ezda Meşkan was born in the village of Meşkan in Gever (Yüksekova) district of Hakkari. Many people from the village and her relatives joined the Kurdish liberation struggle. Ezda grew up in a corresponding atmosphere and met guerrilla fighters as a child. The decisive factor in her decision to join the armed struggle was the murder of PKK co-founder Sakine Cansiz in Paris in January 2013. On 15 August 2013, she went to the mountains and did basic training in Xakurke. Afterwards, she took part in the defence of Maxmur and Kirkuk against ISIS and played a major role in beating back the Islamists. During this time, she became deeply involved with patriarchal structures of domination and came to believe that a new life must be built on women's freedom. She grappled with the ideas of Abdullah Öcalan and her own personality and finally went to Northern Kurdistan in 2016. In Botan, she focused on avenging the massacres committed by the Turkish state during the urban war. In the last six years, she took part in numerous guerrilla actions and developed into a leading commander of the YJA Star.

Mahir Başkale

Mahir Başkale was born in the Başkale district of Van and grew up in a patriotic atmosphere. He became acquainted with the Kurdish liberation struggle and the ideas of Abdullah Öcalan at an early age and at the same time witnessed the state's campaign of destruction against the Kurdish people. As an adolescent, he became active in the youth movement and was arrested several times. In 2013, he joined the guerrillas and underwent basic training. His first area of practice was Xakurke. When ISIS invaded Kurdistan a short time later, he fought on the fronts in Maxmur and Kirkuk and made a significant contribution to the defence of the population. After completing his task, he returned to the mountains with his unit. Due to his combat experience, he was appointed commander and went to Botan at his own request, where he organised and led guerrilla actions against the Turkish army for a long time.

The HPG expressed their condolences to the relatives and the people of Kurdistan and vowed that the struggle of the martyrs would continue.

        

Guerrilla actions in Zap and Metîna

Regarding the details of the guerrilla actions on Wednesday, the HPG said that three soldiers were shot dead by sniper units in Çemço in the Zap region and at Girê Cûdî in Metîna. At Girê Cûdî, two more soldiers were killed in an action carried out by YJA Star guerrillas with heavy weapons, one soldier was wounded, and the attacked position was destroyed. In the resistance area of Şehîd Adil in the Zap, four soldiers were killed in an action with heavy weapons, while another action took place in Sîda.

Attacks by the Turkish army on Southern Kurdistan

Guerrilla positions in the Saca and Çemço areas were bombed five times by drones with prohibited ordnance on Tuesday and Wednesday, and prohibited weapons were also used in Sîda. In the Şehîd Bahoz tunnel in Çemço, the Turkish army introduced a liquid which reacted to the subsequent bombardment and began to burn.

The HPG also reported eight airstrikes by fighter jets in Metîna and the Zap region and six other helicopter attacks, as well as dozens of bombardments with howitzers.