55 soldiers were killed, 25 trucks and 5 vehicles working for the state were set ablaze and 2 Cobra helicopters were damaged by guerrillas in the Revolutionary Initiative launched in Serhat region, North Kurdistan.
HPG Press Office released an updated balance sheet of the revolutionary initiative launched by guerrillas in Serhat region, North Kurdistan.
HPG (People's Defense Forces) Press Office recalled that guerrillas had launched Martyr Mahir, Martyr Argeş and Martyr Eylem Revolutionary Initiative in Serhat Province earlier this week, and gave the following information regarding the actions carried out by guerrillas against special operations forces brought in from Kayseri, Tokat and Erzurum to join the military operations in this region.
“On May 24 at 14:30, guerrillas closed the highway between Ağrı's Bazid (Doğubayazıd) district and Van's Çaldıran district, and held a meeting with the people from hundreds of vehicles travelling here. During the road control, 25 trucks and 5 vehicles working for the Turkish state were set ablaze. Guerrillas hit the soldiers from Gulizerkê outpost that rushed to the area for intervention at 17:00 in the evening. Effective strikes by guerrillas left 7 soldiers dead and 6 others wounded, 2 of them heavily. Continued strikes by guerrillas targeted the soldiers dispatched from Gulizerkê outpost and Zorava hill, as result of which 3 soldiers were killed and 1 other was wounded. Turkish troops later hit the scene with tank, howitzer and mortar fire in addition to strikes by Cobra helicopters supported by reconnaissance aircraft.
Guerrilla forces took contol of the entire area on May 24-25. Guerrillas ambushed and hit the soldiers on Zorava and Gola hills and the soldiers that attempted to intervene the scene at 05:00 on May 25. All the soldiers here were surrounded and destroyed completely, while guerrillas also seized 1 BKC machine gun, 1 HK-33 rifle, 1 grenade thrower, 1 thermal camera and large amounts of supplies of the soldiers. The area was shelled by Turkish forces with howitzer, tank and mortar fire with the support of 2 reconnaissance aircraft and 2 drones. Guerrillas also hit the Cobra helicopters in the operation area, leaving two of these helicopters damaged.
A total of 55 soldiers were killed and bodies of 45 of these remained at the scenes of actions which rendered the Turkish army unable to move in the area.
On May 26, Turkish jets and Cobra helicopters shelled the entire area in addition to bombardments by ground forces with howitzer and mortar fire.”
HPG said the revolutionary initiative of the guerrillas continues and details of further actions will be announced later on.
