In a statement about the war in the guerrilla-held Medya Defence Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq), the press centre of the People's Defence Forces (HPG) said that guerrillas from the Free Women's Troops (YJA Star) carried out several attacks on Turkish positions in the past two days to mark the “Day of Self-Sacrifice” on 30 June. The actions were carried out in memory of Zilan (Zeynep Kınacı) who blew herself up on 30 June 1996 on her own initiative against the Turkish army in the province of Dersim in northern Kurdistan.

Regarding the details of the actions in the Zap and Xakurke regions, as well as the continued attacks by the Turkish army on the guerrillas, HPG provided the following information:

In the Girê FM resistance area in the western Zap region, a radar system installed by the Turkish army was destroyed by the guerrillas on 29 June. When the occupation forces started to move, they were struck with heavy weapons. The next day, YJA Star mobile units targeted Turkish positions twice with heavy weapons and one howitzer position was completely destroyed.

In Xakurke, a Turkish position on Girê Koordinê was shelled by guerrillas with heavy weapons on Thursday. The position was destroyed, one soldier was killed, four other soldiers suffered injuries. In another action, a mobile unit of YJA Star hit a Turkish army position at Girê Şehîd Axîn.

The Turkish army carried out 14 airstrikes with fighter jets on guerrilla areas on 29 June. The western Zap region, Girê Hekarî in Metîna, Gundê Çemrobotkî and Xêrê in Gare as well as Sinînê and Ava Lolanê in Xakurke were affected.

In the past two days, a total of 336 Turkish attacks with howitzers, tanks and heavy weapons were carried out in the Zap, Metîna and Xakurke regions. In the resistance area of Sîda in the Zap region, the Turkish army continued to try to destroy the guerrillas' defence tunnels.