HPG: 22 soldiers killed during retreat from the operation on Zap

Clashes continue on Çukurca border line where at least 22 Turkish soldiers were killed as result of actions by guerrillas.

HPG Press Office released a statement about the invasion operation launched by the Turkish army on Zap region of Medya Defense Zones on the border line in Hakkari's Çukurca district on June 16th.

HPG announced that the invasion operation launched by the Turkish army on Zap region of Medya Defense Zones at 21:30 on June 16th and clashes that erupted during the operation continue in all intensity.

According to the statement, guerrillas continue their actions against the troops that are participating in the ongoing invasion operation in Southern Kurdistan soil.

Concurrently, guerrillas partaking in the Martyr Bedran Gundikremo and Martyr Nalin Muş Revolutionary Initiative also carried out an extensive action against the Turkish troops involved in the invasion operation.

At 22:30 on June 19th, guerrillas joining the Revolutionary Initiative targeted a convoy of troops that were forced to retreat from the invasion operation due to the blows they suffered at the hands of guerrillas.

Guerrillas hit and destroyed two armored vehicles transporting the retreating troops in Xezalkê area located between Hakkari and its Çelê (Çukurca) district. The soldiers in both vehicles were all killed.

A second convoy returning from the invasion operation was targeted in Qesrik area and effective strikes of guerrillas left one armored vehicle destroyed. During this action, a secret Turkish unit in the area tried to move to the scene and this unit was largely eliminated upon the intervention of the guerrillas.

HPG concluded that 22 soldiers, including a lieutenant, were killed and many others were wounded in these actions, after which Turkish attack helicopters shelled Kato Bayê hillsides. The roads where the convoys were hit by guerrillas were closed to traffic and the vehicles were removed till 20 June morning. HPG added that the guerrillas that carried out these actions reached their bases safely.

As part of the Revolutionary Initiative, guerrillas hit the Girê outpost in Çukurca (Çelê) at 09:30 on June 20th. While guerrillas effectively hit the positions here, the number of the soldiers killed or wounded here couldn't be clarified.

At 22:00 the same day, guerrillas hit the soldiers stationed on Martyr Munzur hill, as result of which 1 soldier was killed and 1 other was wounded.