Since February 10, the Turkish army has been attempting in a large-scale operation to invade the Gare region in the Medya Defense Zones defended by the guerrillas. In a statement released on Thursday, the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) calls for protest and resistance in all parts of Kurdistan and worldwide. The KCK statement includes the following:

"Shortly after the Turkish Minister of War and the Turkish Chief of General Staff held talks with the Iraqi government in Baghdad and the Southern Kurdistan government in Hewlêr (Erbil), the Turkish invading army launched an attack on the Gare region in the Medya Defense Zones. On the morning of February 10, Turkish troops were dropped in many places after hours of airstrikes. Heavy fighting is currently taking place between the occupation army and the freedom guerrillas.

The attack would not be possible without the consent of the KDP

The Gare area is located far from the Turkish border in Southern Kurdistan. From time to time, there have been air attacks on Gare. For the first time, ground troops are now being sent out in an attempt to invade the area. Undoubtedly, conducting a ground operation would not be possible without the consent or support of the KDP. On the day of the attack, Masrour Barzani again blamed the guerrillas instead of opposing the invasion. This shows how hard he is trying to lend legitimacy to this occupation. The guerrilla areas have been surrounded by KDP troops for two to three months anyway. The Turkish state has carried out its attack in the context of this encirclement.

The invasion coincides with the 22nd anniversary of Öcalan's abduction

The implementation of the invasion of Gare before the 22nd anniversary of the international plot clearly shows that the goal of the Turkish state is to liquidate the freedom movement and commit genocide against the Kurds. The attacks are aimed at ending the free and democratic life of the Kurdish people in Rojava as well. These attacks are being carried out with the remarks of “determination to not make the same mistake in northern Syria as in northern Iraq”. At the moment, the attack on the inland areas in Southern Kurdistan aims to crush the Kurdish freedom movement by destroying the guerrillas, but it also aims to liquidate the federation of South Kurdistan. The people of Southern Kurdistan and the whole region know very well that the attack is not only against the PKK, and they bring this up openly.

If we do not stop the occupation operations and attacks in all parts of Kurdistan, these attacks by the Turkish state, which target the free and democratic life and existence of the Kurdish people, will continue to escalate. Turkish state officials and regime media emphasize at every opportunity that Kirkuk and Mosul belonged to Turkey and were taken away from them. After the invasion attacks near the border, in regions such as Xakurke and Heftanîn, this attack on the inner areas of Southern Kurdistan is an important step towards the conquest of the provinces of Kirkuk and Mosul. It is well known that when the Turkish state occupies a place, it does not leave it.

Our people should rise up and participate in the campaign against the invasion

The People's Defense Forces (HPG) reported that the helicopters involved in the invasion came from Southern Kurdistan territory under the control of the KDP. Local sources reported that the invasion was launched from the Bakirman town in the Akra city, Southern Kurdistan.

The attack on Gare is not against the guerrilla and the Kurdish people’s freedom struggle led by the PKK but is aimed at the existence, free and democratic life of the entire Kurdish people. In any case, liberation of all parts of Kurdistan cannot be even a matter of discussion unless an attack on a part of Kurdistan is taken as aimed at all the Kurds and a corresponding stand is adopted. The achievements made so far could be lost even.

In this sense, our people, political forces, intellectuals, writers, artists, the women and young people in all parts of Kurdistan and abroad should become active and take a firm stand against the attack and the occupation of Gare. Our people in Northern Kurdistan, Rojava, Eastern Kurdistan and abroad should actively participate in the campaign 'Stop isolation, fascism and occupation - Time for freedom' with actions. Especially the youth and women should rise up everywhere and participate in the campaign to frustrate this occupation.

No quiet hinterland for the occupiers in Southern Kurdistan

The people of Southern Kurdistan have revealed their patriotic and revolutionary stance in every invasion attack. We have never forgotten how the people of Amadiya, Derelok and Sheladize withstood the Zap invasion in 2008. They gave one of the most honorable resistance struggles in the history of Kurdistan. This attitude is also decisive for the current invasion. On this basis, all the cities of Kurdistan, especially Duhok and Akra, must resist the invasion of the Turkish state in Gare and show that neither the Medya Defense Zones nor Southern Kurdistan can be occupied - no quiet hinterland for the occupiers.

The colonial fascist Turkish state is attacking the achievements of the Kurdish people in the struggle for freedom everywhere. Through attacks and occupation, it tries to prevent the emergence of new balances of power in the Middle East, in which the Kurds participate in a free and democratic way. This is how the Kurdish genocide is to be completed. Kurds everywhere must rise up against the Turkish state, repel this attack, and ensure that peace and democracy are achieved in every part of Kurdistan in the 21st century."

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