People’s Defense Units (YPG) Press Office released the balance sheet of attacks and clashes in Rojava and Northern Syria for the month of July.

According to the statement on YPG website, the effective battle against ISIS gangs continues in the operation to liberate Raqqa, the invading Turkish army and gangs under their command have intensified their invasion attempts, attacks and border violations on Efrîn and Shehba, and the goal of attacks has been frustrated in the face of the resistance of YPG/YPJ forces.

 The balance sheet of attacks and clashes for the month of July is as follows;

 “During the month of July, the invading Turkish army and gangs acting under their command attacked the positions of our forces across Rojava 159 times with tanks, mortars, howitzers and heavy weaponry.

Warplanes and reconnaissance aircraft of the invading Turkish army violated and flew over Rojava border 20 times.

The invading Turkish army and gangs acting under their command attacked the positions of our forces 5 times from the ground.

Attacks by the invading Turkish army and affiliated gangs also targeted civilians in addition to our forces’ positions, leaving 5 civilians dead and 15 others wounded.

YPG and YPJ forces retaliated these attacks in the framework of legitimate defense, as result of which;

28 gang members were killed and bodies of 10 remained in our forces’ possession.

1 gang member was captured alive.

5 Turkish soldiers were killed.

One military vehicle and one construction equipment of the Turkish army were destroyed, in addition to 2 panzer vehicles of the gangs, while 2 other dozer vehicles used in emplacement works were damaged.

One pick-up vehicle of the gangs was seized.

1 YPG fighter and 1 Self-defense soldier fell martyr whilst putting up a brave fight against the attacks of the invading Turkish army and affiliated gangs.

The invading Turkish army and gangs acting under their command targeted the houses and cultivated areas of civilians in addition to the positions of our forces, which consequently resulted in severe material damages caused by mortar and tank fire.

On the other hand, YPG and YPK forces continued their active participation and provided remarkable contribution in the operation to liberate Raqqa during July with the ultimate goal of finishing off ISIS in Rojava and Northern Syria lands.

In order to impede the advance of the campaign and to prolong their existence, ISIS gangs attacked the positions of YPG/YPJ forces outside of Raqqa, and our forces managed to repel these attacks as well.

HALF OF RAQQA CLEARED

The operation to liberate Raqqa by the Syrian Democratic Forces, in which YPG and YPJ forces play a major role, witnessed heaviest clashes and an advanced progress during July. Half of the Raqqa city has been cleared of the gangs.

Balance sheet of the offensives and clashes experienced in the operation to liberate Raqqa during the month of July is as follows;

The Yarmouk neighbourhood in the west, Suka al-Hal in the east, al-Huseyn village, Ratla town and Kesrit Mihemed Axa village in the southeast have been liberated, while large parts of the Rawda, Old Raqqa, Hisham bin Abdulmalik, Nazlat Shehade, al-Diriyah, Nedha and al-Barid neighborhoods have been cleared of the gangs.

986 ISIS members have been killed and bodies of 131 were seized by the fighters.

11 gang members were captured alive, and 1 other with injuries, while another 6 surrendered to the fighters.

As result of clashes and sweeping operations, one tank, one BMB, one 23-DShK, one 12.5 DShK, one Hammer-type military vehicle, two drones, three 80m mortars and one 120 m mortar, two explosive-laden vehicles, six B7 weapons, 26 Kalashnikov rifles, three BKC guns, five LAWs of the Turkish army, ammunition and workshops for mine and mortar production were seized, and tunnels enabling the movement of the gangs were taken under control.

During the month of July, ISIS gangs attempted attacks with bomb-laden vehicles 45 times, and with bomb-laden motorbikes twice, all of which were destroyed by the fighters before they reached their targets. In addition, 10 DShK-mounted vehicles, 7 military vehicles and 1 panzer vehicle were destroyed, and one bomb-laden vehicle was damaged.

8 drones used for aggression and reconnaissance purposes were downed by the fighters.

YPG and YPJ fighters that are delivering major blows to the ISIS gangs in Raqqa and Şedadê territories have also mounted a deserving resistance against the Turkish army and affiliated gangs in their defense of Rojava.

During the month of July, 104 comrades of ours were martyred in Rojava and Northern Syria. 83 of these fell martyr fighting ISIS in the operation to liberate Raqqa and 13 others in Şedadê. 3 comrades fell in Efrîn Canton and 5 lost their lives as result of accidents.”