44 Turkish soldiers killed as fierce fighting continues in South Kurdistan

44 members of the Turkish army have been killed in the latest guerrilla actions against the Turkish invading forces in South Kurdistan.

Fierce battles between the guerrillas and the Turkish army are taking place in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). According to the press center of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) in its statement today, the Turkish forces remain unable to break the resistance of the guerrillas. HPG reported 28 chemical weapons strikes and 34 airstrikes on guerrilla positions, and hundreds of howitzer attacks against the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones.

Reporting the martyrdom of guerrilla fighters Hêzil, Laşer, and Seren, HPG stated that information on their identities would be released at a later date.

In the guerrilla actions listed in the HPG statement, 44 members of the Turkish occupation forces were killed. One helicopter was heavily hit, three camera surveillance systems and one thermal camera were destroyed. The guerrillas seized weapons, explosives, ammunition, telephones and other materials from the killed military personnel, including an MPT-66 with ammunition, three MPT-55s, a B-7 rocket, twenty kilograms of explosives, BKC ammunition, a night vision device, a head-mounted camera, a thermal camera, binoculars, a portable solar system, supplies and health materials.

Pointing out that the Turkish army was hiding its casualties in an attempt to cover up its historic defeat, HPG announced the identities of some high-ranking soldiers who were killed in battle and whose bodies remained under guerrilla control for a long while: non-commissioned officers Yunus Eylik, Ali Taşkın from the Siirt Command Brigade, Mevlüt Çetin and Ahmet Akpınar, as well as Uğur Doğru.

HPG provided the following information on the latest guerrilla actions carried out in the Zap, Metîna and Xakurke regions of Medya Defense Zones.

ZAP

On May 30, eight Turkish soldiers were shot dead by guerrilla snipers at Girê FM, and another was injured. On the same day, guerrillas from YJA Star (Free Women's Troops) carried out an action with firearms and hand grenades on a Turkish unit, killing ten soldiers.

In the resistance area of Şikefta Birîndara, a helicopter was hit several times by the guerrillas during its attack flight and had to turn back. The helicopter flew in the direction of Xeregol, where a violent explosion occurred. Subsequently, the area was bombed by fighter jets.

In the Şehîd Şahîn area, guerrillas destroyed a surveillance camera system. In Karker, two soldiers were killed in sniper and sabotage actions by YJA Star guerrillas. On May 29, guerrillas struck a Turkish unit that was about to carry out demolitions on positions. The soldiers involved took flight, leaving behind twenty kilograms of explosives that were then recovered by the guerrillas.

METÎNA

On May 27, guerrillas infiltrated a Turkish position at Girê Şehîd Şoreş and hit the soldiers with hand grenades and firearms, as well as snipers. The action left 18 members of the Turkish occupation forces dead, while guerrilla fighters Laşer and Hêzil were killed in the fighting. On May 28, another guerrilla action targeted an advancing unit, killing three soldiers and wounding another. YJA-Star fighter Seren was part of the attack group and fell in the skirmish.

On May 30, three soldiers were shot dead at Girê Şehîd Zemanî, and a surveillance camera system and thermal camera were destroyed by guerrillas at Girê Azad.

XAKURKE

YJA Star guerrillas hit a Turkish unit at Girê Şehîd Axîn with heavy weapons on May 28. The intended targets were hit with pinpoint accuracy. A day later, a camera surveillance system in the area was destroyed by the guerrillas.