HPG (People's Defense Forces) Press Office has announced the results of clashes and actions against the Turkish troops that sought to make advances in Geliyê Doskî area.

HPG reported that an action by guerrillas in Geliyê Doskî area of Hakkari's Gever (Yüksekova) district yesterday left 31 soldiers dead, including one staff lieutenant colonel, and 6 others wounded. Noting that the number of casualties on the side of the Turkish army was higher but the exact number couldn't be verified, HPG said guerrillas suffered no losses in clashes in this area.

HPG stated that clashes between Turkish soldiers and guerrillas affiliated to HPG (People's Defense Forces) and YJA Star (Free Women's Troops) in Geliyê Doskî continued and got intensified on September 6. Emphasizing that heavy clashes have been taking place in Gever-Çelê-Colemêrg triangle area since August 10, where all the roads are under the control of guerrillas, HPG said the Turkish army hid the truth of guerrilla control in the area, as well as the clashes and their results since.

The statement by HPG reported that Turkish army has intensely deployed military forces in Oremar and Şıtazın areas, while the area of guerrilla-held Geliyê Doskî was uninterruptedly bombed by Turkish jets, tanks and artillery fires since September 2.

According to the statement, guerrillas have stopped the advance of Turkish troops in response to the occupation operation run by the Turkish army in this area. The statement underlined that the Turkish state hid the actual results of the clashes and heavy losses suffered by the Turkish army over the past several days.

HPG provided the following details of the clashes as part of the Martyr Reşit Serdar Initiative;

"A large convoy involving 2 tanks and 4 armored vehicles left Oremar (Dağlıca) and Şıtazın (Yeşiltaş) guard posts to advance towards Geliyê Doskî area between 12:00-13:00 on September 6. The convoy was also accompanied by a large number of soldiers. Guerrillas engaged in heavy clashes with this troop and effectively hit them with BKC and B-7 weapons, which left 4 soldiers dead and 4 others wounded. As armored vehicles attempted to intervene the clashes, one of them was hit and destroyed. Clashes, during which guerrillas hit the convoy with heavy weapons, continued intensely, and left 9 more soldiers dead. Corpses of all these and 9 arms of theirs were seized here. Retreating from the area after leaving the bodies of dead soldiers and armored vehicles at scene, soldiers intervened the scene with tanks and armored vehicles half an hour later. As clashes lasted till 15:00 in the afternoon, guerrillas hit the convoy with bombs and heavy machine guns at close range, and forced the convoy to retreat."

Remarking that a number of soldiers coming from Yüksekova went into action for a second offensive in Geliyê Doskî area with 2 tanks and 4 armored vehicles after 15:00 o'clock, HPG said guerrillas conducted another sabotage action in which one tank and one armored vehicle was destroyed, while intense clashes erupted with the soldiers in the convoy.

While the number of casualties in the destroyed tank couldn't be verified, four other armored vehicles were damaged, which left 8 soldiers dead, as much as could be verified. Guerrillas seized a large quantity of ammunition belonging to the soldiers, and hid the corpse of a soldier in a safe area.

At 17:00 in the evening, guerrillas targeted a hill held by Turkish army in Mergê Zere area, from which an intense attack was conducted on the area. Infiltrating into the hill where six soldiers were present, guerrillas hit the first emplacement and killed the six soldiers here.

Guerrillas also hit the second emplacement here, as a result of which 2 soldiers were killed and one other was wounded. Guard posts on Hill Remo and Hill Çetê were also hit.

On the other hand, a Cobra type helicopter that attempted to intervene the scene was also hit and damaged by guerrillas with heavy weapons, which was therewith forced retreat from the area.

Turkish jets, Cobra type helicopters and tanks also conducted an intense bombardment on the area during the clashes, in which cluster and phosphor bombs were used.

31 soldiers, including one staff lieutenant colonel by the name of İlker Çelikcan, was killed and 6 others were wounded during the clashes that lasted till 7 September morning. While the number of casualties on Turkish army side is higher, guerrillas suffered no casualties.

HPG said the Turkish army wasn't able to take the corpses of soldiers killed at two separate points, which were therewith seized by guerrillas in the area.

While Turkish army has made attempts to take the bodies of soldiers through local villagers, HPG Regional Command has accepted to hand over the bodies.