The press centre of the People's Defence Forces (HPG) reported that the Turkish army fired 53 phosphorus-enriched shells at guerrilla positions near the village of Sida in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) on Sunday.

In addition, 84 further attacks with howitzers, tanks and heavy weapons were carried out on guerrilla areas on 26 February. The targets of the attacks were the Girê Cûdî resistance area as well as Sîda and Çemço in the Zap region.

According to the HPG, the guerrillas twice exercised their right to self-defence and repelled the attackers with heavy weapons, in Girê Cûdî on Saturday and in Çemço on Sunday.

Sîda and Çemço belong to the Sheladize sub-district near the town of Amadiya in Duhok governorate and have been the focus of the occupying forces since the partial withdrawal of the Turkish army from the Zap region at the end of last year.

For the past two years, Turkey has increasingly used banned weapons to occupy the guerrilla areas in southern Kurdistan. Since the beginning of 2021, there have been thousands of attacks with chemical weapons and unconventional bombs. For several days, the HPG has also reported the use of phosphorus shells against guerrilla positions.

Turkey's attacks are taking place despite a ceasefire announced by the Kurdish side. The decision was taken by the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) after the devastating earthquake disaster of 6 February. The Kurdish guerrillas, which include the HPG and YJA Star (Free Women's Troops), are implementing the call for a cessation of all hostilities despite intense shelling of their areas and are in a defensive position.