In a statement on Sunday, the HPG Press and Liaison Center (HPG-BIM) reported a massive escalation of Turkish attacks on the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

The HPG-BIM statement on Sunday said the following:

“Since the fall, the occupying Turkish army has been using banned weapons, phosphorus bombs and chemical weapons and carrying out intense bombardments against our positions and tunnels in Girê Bahar, Girê Cûdî, Orta Alan, Girê FM and Girê Amediyê Resistance Areas in Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region.”

Since the ceasefire declared on March 1, these attacks have continued to increase. Especially since March 20, there has been an intense attack against our forces in this area who want to change their position. The fact that the occupying Turkish army takes advantage of the situation of our forces and attacks them can only be explained with dishonor. In the current situation, there is extreme opportunism and cowardice in question.

The public should know that since March 20, there has been great resistance and intense clashes in the Central Area of the Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region. Our comrades Abbas, Lorîn, Rawan, Özgür and Besê, whose detailed identity information will be announced later, were martyred in the resistance. The occupying Turkish army is trying to take advantage of some positions to take revenge on its historic defeat in this area. But nothing can cover up the truth in this territory. Now, chemical gases are being used intensively against our positions in Girê Cûdî and Girê Bahar Resistance Area. This should also be known by the whole public opinion.

The details of the attacks carried out by the occupying Turkish army and the response of our forces to these attacks are as follows: 

Attacks by warplanes

On April 11 and 12, the Girê Bahar Resistance Area in Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region was bombed twice by warplanes. 

Attacks with heavy weapons, artillery and howitzers

On April 11 and 12, the Turkish army carried out a total of 43 attacks with heavy weapons, artillery and howitzers, targeting the areas of Berê Zînê, Sinînê and Lolan in Xakurkê region 16 times; the areas of Girê Zengil and Deşta Kafya in Garê region 7 times, and Girê Bahar Resistance Area in Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region 20 times.

On April 12 and 13, the southern slopes of the Girê Bahar Resistance Area in the Western Zap region were bombarded by attack helicopters for three hours. During this bombardment, the villages of Belavê and Guherzê in the region were also affected, and the bullets and ammunition of the occupying Turkish army hit these villages as well.

Interventions by our forces

At 07:30 on April 13, a Turkish tank that bombarded our tunnels and positions in the Girê Bahar Resistance Area of Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region was destroyed by our Şehîd Axîn Mûş Unit with a kamikaze drone. This action was carried out in response to the invading Turkish army’s bombardments in the area.”