The press centre of the People's Defence Forces (HPG) stated that the Turkish army carried out 56 attacks with fighter jets, tanks, howitzers and heavy weapons in the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) on Sunday.

"The colonialist Turkish army continues to attack the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla, which is preserving its existing position, with the use of massive technology. Responding to the colonialists on the basis of legitimate self-defence, our forces punished a member of the occupying forces. The areas of our forces were shelled 10 times by fighter jets, and 46 times by tanks, howitzers and heavy weapons,” said the HPG statement on Monday.

According to the HPG statement, the Turkish Air Force bombed the Werxelê area, the surroundings of Geliyê Balinda and Wargeha Şehîd Rêber as well as the areas of Gundê Girê, Gundê Bîrkiyetê and Xêrê in Gare a total of ten times on 19 February. The artillery attacks were directed against the Girê Cûdî resistance area and guerrilla positions in Çemço and near the village of Sîda in the Zap region.

Turkey's attacks came despite a ceasefire announced by the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK). The decision had been taken after the devastating earthquake disaster in the Turkish-Syrian border area. The Kurdish guerrillas, which include the HPG and the YJA Star (Free Women's Troops), are implementing the call for a cessation of all hostilities and are in a defensive position.