The Co-Presidency of the KCK Executive  Council released a statement congratulating the guerrilla forces on their successful resistance against the invading Turkish army in the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

The KCK statement released on Sunday includes the following:

"Since July 19, 2023, the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla has inflicted heavy losses on the occupying Turkish army by carrying out effective attacks. The guerrilla attacks in [the South Kurdish] areas Zap, Metîna and Avaşîn have dealt great blows to the occupying Turkish army. We heartily congratulate all HPG and YJA STAR fighters and commanders, especially our forces in Zap, Metîna and Avaşîn, on their effective attacks. In particular, we congratulate the guerrilla fighters who participated in the attacks on July 19, 20 and 21, 2023. On this occasion, we would like to salute the offensives ‘Cenga Xabûr’, ‘Şehîd Savaş Maraş’ and ‘Bazên Zagrosê’, the attacks carried out as part of these offensives, and wish all fighters involved continued success.

Due to its guerrilla performance, striking capability and strategic and tactical depth, the Central Headquarter of the People’s Defense Forces has forced the occupying fascist enemy forces into a helpless situation and has made their plans fail. With these attacks, the guerrilla has not only dealt a great blow to the enemy, but has also given great morale and joy to the patriotic people of Kurdistan. That is why these attacks are very meaningful both in terms of timing and scope. We would therefore like to congratulate the Central Headquarter of the People’s Defense Forces and send our greetings and respect.

The genocidal colonialist Turkish state has launched a new occupation offensive against South Kurdistan [North Iraq] on July 12, 2023, including comprehensive attacks in the Zap and Metîna areas. These new attacks once again show that the genocidal colonialist Turkish state wants to occupy South Kurdistan as a whole. The guerrilla carried out its attacks against the genocidal colonialist Turkish state’s new operation in the Zap and Metîna areas. The whole resistance of the guerrilla, including its most recent attacks, means the defense and protection of South Kurdistan against occupation. This reality needs to be well understood. Everywhere the guerrilla defends, fights and resists for Kurdistan and the gains of the Kurdish people. The guerrilla’s resistance must be supported by all patriots, and a strong attitude must be taken against the treasonous and collaborative forces that work with the enemy and support the Kurdish genocide. This is what every patriot is required to do. The defense and liberation of Kurdistan and its national unity can only be achieved through this patriotic attitude.

The guerrilla, due to the depth it has reached in strategy and tactics and the level of its Apoist sacrificial stance, has once again demonstrated with its great attacks that it is undefeatable and that it will defend Kurdistan, which is covered with the blood of hundreds of thousands of martyrs, under all conditions. Thus, it has demonstrated the most meaningful loyalty to all martyrs. This is a highly honorable, meaningful and admirable stance. We would therefore like to once again congratulate all HPG and YJA STAR commanders and fighters on their successful attacks and express our greetings and respect. We respectfully commemorate the martyrs of Zap, Metîna, Avaşîn and Xakurkê and thus all the martyrs of revolution and democracy, and reiterate our promise of success and victory to them."