In a statement on Saturday, the Press Office of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) reported that guerrillas carried out a revolutionary operation on 20 February in the Zap region of the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

Guerrilla operation against the Turkish troops in Kurojaro

“In the face of the continuous attacks by the occupying Turkish army from the air and land, our guerrilla forces responded within the framework of legitimate defense,” said the HPG. According to the statement, the operation, conducted in memory of the guerrillas who have fallen as martyrs recently, was directed against the Turkish troops in Kurojaro Resistance Area.

The HPG statement said: “Our forces, equipped with the selfless spirit of Apoism, advanced from three sides into enemy positions using infiltration tactics and overran it. The invaders’ positions were attacked quickly and effectively. Some of the occupiers fled their positions, while others who responded were eliminated. The capture of the hill took about 20 minutes. During this time, all positions were fired upon with grenades, light hand weapons and automatic rifles at close range and destroyed. A weapons depot, a surveillance camera and a mobile cable car were also destroyed, and five army tents were set on fire. Weapons and other military equipment found in other tents were seized.

Ten soldiers killed, including a high-ranking commander

The bodies of ten occupiers were inspected by our forces, including a high-ranking commander of the Turkish occupying army. The names of three killed soldiers are Ilhan Köksoy, Hüseyin Özdal and Eyüp Öksüz. However, the Turkish state is concealing the actual extent of its defeat in Kurojaro and has only admitted the loss of soldier Mustafa Uslu. We would like to make the public aware that the official statements regarding our revolutionary operation do not correspond to the truth. The Turkish Ministry of Defense's claim that 17 members of the guerrilla forces were killed in retaliation for the death of the aforementioned soldier is also a fabrication.”

Three guerrillas martyred in an ambush near Amadiya

On the other hand, HPG reported that three of their members were martyred on Friday near the district of Amadiya. The group was reportedly moving in the area surrounding the village of Guherzê when they were “treacherously targeted from behind” by armed individuals in civilian clothing. Footage of the attack has also been released by the Roj News agency. In the video, which was sent to the agency by a witness, several Turkish-speaking people can be seen in a vehicle with civilian license plates, shooting in the same direction. One of the men shouts: “He/she blew himself up, get us out of here.”

According to the HPG, the identity of “these cowardly and devious” individuals has not yet been fully established. However, it announced that it would hold them accountable for the loss of their members and stated that “from now on, all vehicles moving between Derêlûk and Amadiya that do not bear a license plate with the flag of South Kurdistan will be considered enemies and legitimate targets of attack”.

Further guerrilla actions in South Kurdistan

The HPG also provided details of further guerrilla actions carried out against Turkish occupation forces in South Kurdistan in recent days and weeks but have not yet been made public. According to the statement, on Thursday two Turkish military positions raised on the Girê Amêdîyê on the western front of the Zap region were hit by guerrilla artillery and damaged. A day earlier, the air defense unit “Şehîd Axîn Mûş” destroyed a military position at Girê Bahar with drones. On February 6, a soldier was shot dead by an HPG sniper while replacing the surveillance cameras in the area. In addition, Turkish military equipment for day and night surveillance was destroyed at Girê Bahar.

Attacks by the Turkish army

Regarding the most recent attacks by the Turkish army on South Kurdistan, HPG announced that its tunnel system under the Girê Cûdî massif, also on the western Zap front, was attacked with banned explosives on Tuesday and massive air strikes were carried out.

From last Sunday until today, the HPG recorded at least 32 waves of air strikes targeting areas in Xakurke, Qendîl, Gare, Metîna and Zap.