The fighters of the Kurdish guerrilla forces are resolutely continuing their resistance against the Turkish invasion in the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). According to Friday’s report by the press centre of the People's Defense Forces (HPG), at least five soldiers of the Turkish army have been killed in the past 48 hours as a result of guerrilla actions against the occupation operation. The guerrillas also managed to seize a large quantity of explosives. In addition, the HPG provided information about a guerrilla action on 1 June in Heftanîn in which seven military personnel were killed.

In the fight against the Turkish army, the guerrillas mainly operate in small mobile groups. In Avaşîn on Wednesday evening, a Sikorsky transport helicopter was struck and damaged. The aircraft was moving over the mountainous landscape coming from Mervanos, while the target was Zap, where the resistance area of Çemço in particular was heavily contested on Thursday. One enemy advance attempt was thwarted with hand grenades, while three soldiers were killed through a combination of sniper actions and the use of heavy weapons at the Şehîd Adil defensive positions. Later in the day, another soldier was killed by a sniper from the Free Women's Troops (YJA Star).

In Metîna, the guerrillas hit the positions of the occupying forces in Girê Cûdî with heavy weapons on Wednesday morning. Towards evening, a reconnaissance drone was shot down over the resistance area, followed by a sniper operation which left one soldier dead. On Thursday evening, the guerrillas prevented a major attack by the occupiers against the tunnel facility at Girê Cûdî. As a result of the strike by guerrillas, the soldiers left their explosive charges in the battle area and fled. The HPG stated that the amount of TNT seized was four kilogrammes.   

Successful action in Heftanîn

The HPG also reported that there is now confirmed information about a guerrilla action in the Heftanîn region on 1 June. Due to "war-related circumstances", it had previously not been possible to confirm information about the course of events. In the meantime, it is certain that seven Turkish soldiers were killed in the action at Girê Koxê Melle Yahya near Keşan.

Attacks by the Turkish army

Regarding the attacks by the Turkish army, the HPG reported that on 27 and 28 July, a total of 16 different chemical weapons were used against guerrilla positions. The targets of these attacks were Girê Hekarî, Girê Cûdî, Girê FM, Karker, Girê Amêdî and Şehîd Umît. At the FM and Cûdî hills, agents were used that spread grey, white and black smoke, smelled like detergent, produced a bitter taste in the mouth and caused respiratory distress. The guerrilla areas were also bombed five times by fighter jets and eight times by helicopters and attacked "hundreds of times" with howitzers, tanks and other heavy weapons. Several shells were fired at parts of Xakurke from Turkish outposts this Friday.