Resistance continues unabated to the Turkish invasion of the guerrilla-held Medya Defence Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). In a statement released on Friday, the Press Office of the People's Defence Forces (HPG) denied once more reports spread in Turkish media about a fallen guerrilla fighter.

Paying tribute to Kemal Pir, who died in a hunger strike in Amed dungeon 41 years ago, HPG said: "We commemorate with respect and gratitude the internationalist Kemal Pir, who was one of the first companions of Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan], was one of the co-founders of the Apoist movement, is considered one of the first commanders of our guerrilla army and determined the nature of the PKK's resistance. Our forces carried out 17 actions in memory of Kemal Pir on the anniversary of his death. In these actions, four occupants were killed, one shovel excavator and 10 positions were damaged."

HPG provided the following details regarding the actions carried out by the guerrillas on 7-8 September:

Şehîd Delîl in western Zap region

In the Girê FM resistance area, a shovel excavator was fired at from two sides with heavy weapons and brought to a halt on 7 September.

In the Girê Cûdî resistance area, YJA Star guerrillas continuously struck positions of the Turkish occupation forces with heavy weapons on Thursday and Friday night. Two soldiers were shot dead by snipers. An army airborne operation supported by attack helicopters was thwarted by the intervention of guerrillas with heavy weapons.

Further strikes by the guerrillas left 10 positions of the Turkish forces damaged.

Metîna

In the Girê Ortê resistance area, guerrillas infiltrated the position of a Turkish unit on 6 September and struck them with firearms from close range. Two soldiers were killed.

Xakurke

YJA Star guerrillas hit the occupation forces at Girê Şehîd Axîn with heavy weapons on 7 September.

Attacks by the Turkish army

The Golka area in Metîna was bombed four times by fighter jets on Thursday. In addition, artillery attacks were carried out on the regions of Zap, Metîna and Xakurke.

False reports about Şerzan Mawa

The Turkish Defence Ministry has almost turned into a lie-producing ministry and has once again spread false reports about a fallen fighter, said the HPG. The reports concern Şerzan Mawa (Ferit Yüksel), who fell in an attack with a tactical nuclear bomb in Sîda in the Zap on 28 June, as had been reported by the HPG Press Centre on 4 July. A distorted account of the incident first appeared in the Turkish media on 10 July. Today, the Ministry of Defence published a report in which Şerzan Mawa was described as one of those responsible for the Zagros region and his death was presented as a new event.

"To this end, we must first say that the Turkish army has committed a war crime by using a tactical nuclear bomb. The occupying army is getting nowhere in the face of resistance and the tactical intelligence of the guerrillas. It uses extreme technology and commits war crimes. Because it is not getting results even with this, it is trying to cover up its helpless state with lies. Everything it says on this subject is a lie. The relevant documents have been published before. Our companion Şerzan was an Apoist and sacrificial fighter who believed wholeheartedly in the freedom struggle of his people. However, he was not responsible for the Zagros region as reported by the Turkish special war media," HPG said.