The press center of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) reported in its daily statement about the ongoing war in guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones that ten members of the Turkish occupation forces have been killed in the past two days during resistance actions against the Turkish invasion of southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

In the resistance area of Çiyareş, the guerrillas struck Turkish military positions in the vicinity of the defense positions at Girê Cehennem twice in the last two days. Mobile guerrilla units were also involved in the actions, in which both hand grenades and light weapons were used. According to the HPG statement, two soldiers were injured during the action.

In Şikefta Birîndara, Turkish occupation forces attempted to attack the guerrillas' battle positions with explosives on May 18. The guerrillas there responded with targeted fire, and two soldiers were shot dead. On Thursday night, several soldiers were observed planting explosives at the same battle positions. Strikes by guerrillas left two soldiers dead.

In Şikefta Birîndara, the bodies of several soldiers remain under guerrilla control. Yesterday, the HPG announced that there were attempts to advance into the area for the purpose of recovering the bodies. In two successive actions against the evacuation of these soldiers, six other soldiers were killed on Thursday. Their bodies are also in the area controlled by the guerrillas. The HPG also indicated that the same region has been attacked twice with chemical warfare agents.

At Kuro Jahro, three advances by the occupation forces toward the battle positions in Şehîd Tolhildan were successfully repelled by the guerrillas on Thursday morning, and sporadic clashes followed. In the evening, the areas of Şehîd Harûn and Şehîd Dîdar were bombarded by the Turkish army. At the same time, HPG recorded helicopter activity over the region. In Şikefta Birîndara, Şehîd Berxwedan and Şehîd Hewrê, chemical weapons were used a total of thirteen times.

In its statement, HPG emphasized once again that the air and ground attacks of the Turkish army in southern Kurdistan continue uninterruptedly. In Zap, the areas of Girê Amediye, Girê Cûdî, Girê FM, Şehîd Harûn, Çemço, Gundê Rençbir Axa and Şehîd Dîdar were attacked by fighter jets at least fifteen times in the previous day. Parallel ground attacks were carried out from Turkish outposts. In Metîna, shells hit the outskirts of Girê Hakkarî. In addition, the region was hit by nine air strikes. In Xakurke, the slopes of Girê Şekîf were bombed with howitzers fired from Turkish border outposts.