People's Defense Central Headquarters Command has released a statement about yesterday's armed attack by Turkish soldiers against civilians, which left 1 dead and 2 wounded, in Gundik (Koyunlu) village in Göle district of Ardahan.

People's Defense Central Headquarters Command said that the attack had been planned and organized by the Turkish military.

Reminding of their statement in which the Kurdish freedom movement vowed to retaliate against all attacks on the basis of self-defense, the Command said the operation of the Turkish army in Göle has also been responded.

The Central Headquarters Command also recalled that the Turkish army has made numerous attempts for an attack against guerrilla areas despite the sensitive and cautionary approach guerrilla forces manifested to avoid eruption of clashes between two sides.

The Headquarters Command reported that the Turkish army launched an operation against the Şehit (Martyr) Sidar area in Göle at 13.00 on 11th July and performed reconnaissance flights over the same area from the evening till the morning of 12th July.

The statement said that Turkish soldiers in 3 scorpion type military vehicles entered the guerrilla-held Şehit (Martyr) Sidar area and attempted to conduct an offensive operation at 8 am in the morning. Guerrillas gave an immediate response to the operation, which left 3 special operation members dead, the statement said.

The Headquarters Command reported that another special operation team that arrived the scene for reinforcement one hour after the incident also got involved in the clash, adding that the minibus carrying them was also destroyed as a result of an effective warning action by guerrillas.

According to the statement, the Turkish army suffered many casualties in this action, while the exact number couldn't be verified. The operation of the Turkish troops, who are holding two hills in Şehit Sidar area, continues, it added.

Regarding the armed attack of soldiers who targeted a civil car traveling from Gundık village to the highland at 08.30 on 12th July, the Headquarters Command said this was an attempt for yet another planned attack, as would be understood well from its timing and place.

The statement pointed out that such provocative activities that aimed to suppress the people of Serhat region did all fail due to the sensitive and precise approach of the people and efforts of the guerrillas to eliminate such provocations.

The statement noted that the media reports aiming a misleading of the public with misinformation indicated an expected continuation and expansion of such attacks from now on.

"With great determination as it has always been, we will be using our right to self-defense against all attacks that would target our people and guerrilla forces, and all the smear and black propaganda campaigns", People's Defense Central Headquarters Command added.