The Press Office of People’s Defense Forces (HPG) announced that the invading Turkish army has launched a new occupation operation in the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

According to the HPG statement on Friday, the operation is directed against the areas where the Turkish troops retreated from after suffering heavy losses at the hands of the guerrilla forces in winter.

HPG stated that occupation attacks were launched against the Kurojahro Resistance Area in Zap on July 14, and the Girê Ortê Resistance Area in Metina on July 19 “with open support and collaboration of the KDP”.

The intense aerial bombardments on July 20 night were followed by an invasion attack on the Girê Cûdî Resistance Area in the Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region on July 21.

“The invading Turkish army’s attacks with advanced warfare technology and support from collaborators, were met with the effective response of our forces, who inflicted heavy blows on the occupiers. Actions by our forces and attacks by the invasion forces continue,” said the HPG.

HPG provided the following details regarding the actions by guerrillas and attacks by the Turkish forces:

Zap region

The Girê Şehîd Tolhildan area in Kurojahro was bombed by fighter jets and howitzers on July 10 and 12. Troops were airdropped on July 14 in the areas of Girê Şehîd Harun, Girê Şehîd Tolhildan and Girê Şehîd Dîdar, from which the Turkish army had to withdraw in winter. The occupation forces continue their attacks on the areas of Saca, Kokerê, Kurojahro and Karker resistance areas.

Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region

Guerrillas hit the occupation forces at Girê FM Resistance Area with heavy weapons on July 19, and destroyed a jammer device of theirs on July 20.

On July 20, the Turkish army carried out 41 strikes by warplanes and 22 strikes by attack helicopters in the Girê Cûdî Resistance Area on the evening of July 20 . Following the wave of intense bombardment, troops were airdropped 10 times on the Şehîd Zagros hill at midnight.

On July 21, the Turkish forces moving from Girê Şehîd Zagros to Girê Şehîd Şîlan were struck by the guerrillas 7 times and their advance was stopped in the early morning hours.

Avaşîn region

On July 17, the occupation forces in the Tabura Ereban Resistance Area were struck in a coordinated guerrilla action in the morning. The strikes by mobile guerrilla units left 3 members of the occupation forces dead, who were retrieved from the area late at night. Turkish attacks on the area are ongoing.

Metîna region

On July 19, the Turkish army launched a ground operation after advancing from the base of KDP forces in the Girê Ortê area of Metina towards the Neqeba Tirvaniş and Şehîd Piling areas in the early morning hours.

On July 20, Turkish forces moving from the KDP area in Girê Ortê placed mass surveillance equipment at various points in the operation area.

KDP troops have turned their base near Girê Ortê into a “coordination centre for the Turkish occupation operation” and acted as collaborators. The attacks of the Turkish army against the guerrillas are consistently and openly supported by the KDP and the operation continues.

Turkish attacks with tactical nuclear bombs

On July 11 and 12, the guerrilla positions in the Kokerê Resistance Area of Zap were shelled 4 times with tactical nuclear bombs.

On July 20, the guerrilla positions in the Sîda Resistance Area of Zap were bombed once with tactical nuclear bombs.

Attacks by the Turkish army

The invading Turkish army attacked the guerrilla positions in Sîda Resistance Area of Zap and Girê FM Resistance Area in Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region, and attempted to demolish the tunnels with construction machinery on July 17, 18 and 19.

On July 18 and 19, Turkish fighter jets struck the Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region 3 times, and the Girê Ortê and Girê Hakkarî areas in Metina 5 times.

On July 20, a total of 49 airstrikes were carried out on the resistance areas of Girê Bahar in Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region, Girê Amediyê and Girê Cûdî.

On July 18, attack helicopters carried out 36 strikes on the resistance areas of Girê Hakkarî in Metîna, and Girê Cûdî in Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region.

On July 17,18, 19 and 20, the Turkish army carried out 519 attacks with howitzers, tanks and heavy weapons. The attacks were directed against Sîda, Şehîd Delîl, Tabura Ereban, Girê Hekarî and Golka in Zap and Metîna, as well as Girê Şehîd Heqî, Girê Şehîd Kamuran, Girê Kolît and Ava Lolanê in Xakurke.