The Press Center of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) has issued a detailed statement on the ground operation launched by the Turkish army against the Medya Defense Zones on Friday and the guerrilla resistance against it.

The statement includes the following:

"The colonialist occupant Turkish state launched a comprehensive occupation offensive against the regions of Metina, Avashin and Zap in the Medya Defense Zones on April 23. Our guerrilla forces put up selfless resistance to the intense attacks and inflicted heavy losses on the Turkish occupation army. The details are as follows:

Great resistance in Metina

On April 23, Hill Zendura was bombed with howitzers between 6:00 and 7:00 pm. Between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m., warplanes followed with further attacks on the hill and the Derarê and Koordine areas. From 9:30 p.m., bombardments of the same locations by attack helicopters began, continuing until 1:30 a.m. Between 00:30 and 1:30, the Turkish occupation army tried to airdrop troops from helicopters in the area between Hill Zendura and Derare. The helicopters were targeted by our forces and forced to turn back. On April 24, the Zendura hill was intensively attacked from the air at 5:10 a.m., after which troops were airdropped.

A massive artillery bombardment with mortars and howitzers is taking place on Zendura and Derare from Turkish border posts.

On April 23, between 9:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m., the outskirts of the village of Beşili were bombed by fighter jets of the Turkish occupation army. 

In the course of these extensive attacks, the guerrillas mounted great resistance. There were no casualties in our ranks.

Zap region bombed

Between April 18 and 23, the Turkish army bombarded the areas of Çemço, Sida, Werxele and Kunişka in the Zap region with mortars, howitzers and Katyusha rocket launchers.

At 7 p.m. on April 23, the Kartal, Geliyê Basya, Geliyê Avaşîn, Hill Sor, Mamreşo, Mervanos, Aris-Faris, Şukê and Dola Konferansê areas in Avashin region were bombed by fighter jets and howitzers.

Troop deployment sabotaged

The Mamreşo area was initially bombed at 7 p.m., after which troops were airdropped. During the mission, two of the Sikorsky transport helicopters were targeted by the guerrillas. The helicopters, damaged by the shelling, were then forced to leave the combat area. While the Turkish forces suffered casualties, the exact number could not be determined.

Around 9 p.m., the occupiers attempted to reposition and were attacked a second time by our forces. Here one soldier was killed and many others were injured.

The invaders were targeted as they advanced and were effectively shelled from close range. After suffering losses, the occupiers initially retreated a short distance, but attempted to advance again in the morning hours. Due to a renewed intervention by our forces at close range, the occupiers were forced to retreat again. In the course of the clashes, a large number of the invaders were punished. A Cobra attack helicopter that was bombing the area was forced to retreat following a response by our forces.

On April 24, at around 9 a.m., the occupiers attempted to advance in the area one more time. By means of sabotage tactics, our forces took effective action against the invaders twice. Due to heavy losses, the occupying Turkish army was forced to interrupt its advance.

Zap operation

In the evening hours of April 23, the Turkish occupation army launched an operation in the Zap region. The operation covers the areas of Kinyaniş, Boxaza Nêrwe, Qela Bêdewê and the Hill Martyr Munzur. The operation is still ongoing at the moment. As soon as more detailed information is available, it will be shared with the public."

Action by the air defense units

Finally, the HPG informed that the Martyr Delal Amed Air Defense Units struck the battalion of the Turkish army in the Çukurca district of Hakkari the day before. The action took place on the occasion of the campaign "Dem Dema Azadiyê ye" (Time for Freedom). "The targets were effectively hit with missiles and the action was successful," the statement said.