HPG: Resistance against Turkish occupation continues unabated

Resistance against the Turkish occupation in Southern Kurdistan continues unabated. The HPG report attacks on transport helicopters, sabotages and sniper actions by the guerrillas.

The guerrillas continue their resistance against the Turkish occupation in Southern Kurdistan unabated. According to a statement of the press center of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) on the current war in the region, the guerrillas of the HPG and YJA Star have again carried out several actions against the occupying forces. "The effective actions of our forces against the Turkish army's comprehensive occupation operation in Avaşîn and Zap continue uninterruptedly. Our mobile units move 24 hours in the field and deal heavy blows to the occupiers with creative tactics," the HPG statement on Friday said.

As a result of the latest actions, fifteen soldiers were killed, two Sikorsky transport helicopters were hit and a surveillance system was destroyed, said the statement, listing the details as follows:

Avaşîn

April 19: In the Werxelê resistance area, Turkish occupation troops were targeted by a sniper unit while attempting to take up a position. One soldier was shot dead here.

April 21: A total of three guerrilla sabotages against the advance toward Werxelê resulted in the deaths of four Turkish military personnel.

Zap

In the Zap region, the guerrillas' fortified war positions in the Kunîşka area have been attacked with explosives over the past two days. The clashes that broke out as a result continue.

At Kuro Jahro, the guerrillas used light weapons and hand grenades to counter an attempted advance by the occupying forces on Thursday. As a result, the Turkish army had to retreat a short distance. Later in the day, invading forces attacked guerrilla positions in the area around Kuro Jahro with explosives. At the nearby Şehîd Şemdîn hill, a surveillance system installed by the military was destroyed. At least three soldiers were killed in a sabotage attack by the guerrillas from YJA Star (Free Women's Troops).

In Şikefta Birîndara, the guerrillas put two helicopters under heavy fire on Thursday evening. One of the aircraft was hit and turned back without dropping troops it was carrying. Around the same time, the Girê Cûdî and Girê Şehîd Kendal areas were first bombed by attack helicopters before a Sikorsky aircraft began landing in front of Girê Rûbar. The transport helicopter was massively damaged by "effective shelling" and forced to retreat.

At Girê Ortê, occupation troops were targeted by guerrillas while digging positions on Friday night. One soldier was killed. In the same region, the HPG recorded several attacks using chemical weapons and explosives against defensive positions on April 18.

Another sniper action in Zap left one soldier dead on Friday morning. According to the statement, the occupation forces were trying to advance toward Girê Şehîd Rustem in the Karker resistance area. Immediately after the first shelling, the guerrillas moved at close range against the invaders. In the process, another five military personnel were shot dead.

Coordinated attacks from the ground and from the air

HPG also reported Turkish airstrikes on Girê Hakkarî in Metîna as well as in the village of Çemrobotkî near Gare the previous day. In addition, the attacks by the occupation forces on Avaşîn and the Zap, which have been ongoing since yesterday, are taking place in a coordinated manner. The air strikes by fighter jets and helicopters are accompanied by artillery fire from Turkish border guards.