Soldiers in the Turkish army suffer blow after blow from the Kurdish Freedom Movement guerrillas in Southern Kurdistan and can’t leave their positions. All trees and rocks are now guerrillas against the Turkish army!

The Turkish army has conducted invasion attacks against Southern Kurdistan for decades. With the invasion attacks against Afrin, particularly since the invasion of the city, attacks against the South and the Bradost region have intensified. The Turkish army has intensified the invasion against Southern Kurdistan with attacks against Lêlîkan and Sîdekan in Hewlêr since April 5. Against this invasion attempt, HPG and YJA-Star guerrillas continue to deal heavier blows to the Turkish army, but the Turkish state hides the number of casualties from the public.

So we traveled to the region to tell the true story of the land, and to expose the Turkish army’s attacks against civilians, and the strong actions the guerrillas take against them. The Turkish state is covering up their attacks against civilians. The Turkish army has been targeting civilians, their residential areas and their means of living.

RESISTANCE IN BRADOST AND THE DIMDIM CITADEL

Bradost is the name of both the region and the clan there. It is a region in Hewlêr’s Sîdekan district. The Soma district of Eastern Kurdistan’s Urmia province is also known as Bradost. The region is known for its resistance and struggle against invaders.

One of the famous resistances in history by the people of Bradost was the Dimdim Citadel Resistance. When the Baathians attacked the Bradost region in 1609, the ruler of Bradost (Lepzêrîn Han) displayed a heroic resistance. The people of Bradost received the resistance with a warm heart and embraced them. PKK guerrillas have been settled in the Bradost region since 1980, and have resisted invasion attacks since.

Before the invasion attacks against Lêlîkan started, the region had peace and the nature had become one with the guerrilla. Lêlîkan’s nature was beautiful. Now looking at the region, one sees the mark the attacks and bombings made. The natural beauty of the region has been damaged. Bradost is constantly bombed and civilian residential areas, fields and orchards are damaged severely. The attacks are carried out with fighter jets and advanced technical equipment, and the guerrilla display a great resistance against them, carrying out actions against Turkish soldiers’ positions. Dozens of soldiers and counter units are killed in these actions. Unable to fight, the Turkish army is looking to make their invasion of the region permanent through technological advantage.

The soldiers killed and wounded in guerrilla actions are removed using helicopters. In our visit to the region, when we spoke with the locals they said the Turkish soldiers are unable to leave their positions due to effective actions by the guerrilla, and that their psychology has collapsed.

PEOPLE’S BLOOD CHEAPER THAN WATER

During our visit, an interesting point was the presence of peshmerga forces’ headquarters and the Iraqi border defense forces just 500 meters from the area invaded by the Turkish army. In front of their eyes, the Turkish army invaded the lands of Southern Kurdistan and Iraq, and killed civilians. Despite these attacks against civilians and the massacres, they act like nothing happened. For them, the blood of citizens is cheaper than water.

LÊLÎKAN A BANNED DISTRICT

We wanted to see the situation close up, so we wanted to visit Lêlîkan’s villages but the locals said they can’t help us. Because the PDK forces and the Turkish army would detain them for “aiding and abetting” and pressure them.

The people of Bradost used to go to the highlands in June every year, but this year they can’t due to Turkish invasion attacks.

People coming into the region are greeted by the guerrilla and the guerrilla provide them with safer areas than where they came from. They also set up special forces to ensure safe passage for people who come in to the region. What can be seen there is that the guerrilla and the locals have formed a warm relationship. The people and the guerrilla support each other.

PEOPLE ARE ANGRY

During our visit, the residents said, “We make a living through husbandry, and we are unable to survive due to the invasion attacks and the bombings. Our lives are in danger constantly. Many of our fields have burned down due to the bombings.”