People's Defense Centre [HSM] Headquarters Command has released a statement rejecting involvement in the killing of 3 Turkish soldiers in Gever [Yüksekova] district of Hakkari last week.

“Our organized units have no involvement in this incident into which investigation by our side continues”, the HSM Headquarters Command stressed.

Remarking that it was meaningful that the Turkish military has launched an expansive operation in Cudi area on the basis of reports about an alleged seizure of 8 sacks of fertilizer on a truck, the HSM Command said these allegations and exaggerated information aimed to prepare a ground for military operations. The HSM said it was important that the public opinion not give credit for such wrong and exaggerated reports.

The statement underlined that; “Three guerrillas of our forces were martyred by Turkish security forces in a clash that took place in Kağızman district of Kars on 25 October. In face of all the attacks targeting us, we as Kurdistan People's Defense Forces have the right to retaliation.”

The HSM Headquarters Command stressed that they however had no instructions for the killing of 3 soldiers in Gever, and that their investigation into the incident continued.