The Press Office of the People’s Defense Forces (HPG) reported that at least 31 members of the Turkish occupation forces have been killed in actions in the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

According to the HPG statement on Friday, 29 members of the Turkish army were killed in a coordinated action by mobile guerrilla teams on the western front of Zap. Two other soldiers were killed in a sabotage action by YJA Star (Free Women’s Troops) in Xakurke.

“The Turkish invading army has carried out intensive attacks in the past three years in order to achieve the aim of its occupation operation in Zap. Despite permanent bombardments of the Medya Defense Zones from the ground and from the air using all the war technology at its disposal, using prohibited explosives, chemical warfare agents and tactical bombs, and committing war crimes, the Turkish occupation army has failed to achieve its goal. The Kurdistan Freedom Forces produced a selfless resistance with the spirit of Apoist sacrifice and successfully devoted themselves to the fighting style and tactics of the guerrilla of democratic modernity. They proved through their professional tunnel and movement warfare with mobile units that they could thwart any kind of attack and at the same time inflict heavy blows,” said the HPG statement.

The statement continued: “Especially in Zap, where the Turkish occupation army is stuck, several attempts of attack were answered by the guerrillas and repelled with effective measures. In a last unsuccessful attempt, the invaders used special forces on Thursday evening (12 October) to advance to the war tunnels in the Girê Cûdî resistance area. The occupiers worked their way in from three sides, but it remained an attempt that faced an effective response from the guerrillas. 29 attackers were punished and another four injured. The Turkish army, which suffered a heavy defeat, concealed its losses as usual and only acknowledged the death of a senior military officer.”

Regarding the details of the action, HPG explained that the soldiers involved in the attempted attack on the tunnel facility in the Girê Cûdî resistance area were struck from several wings.

Initially, mobile units with light small arms and sniper teams struck the first front of the invading forces at 21:30, killing 11 soldiers and injuring 4 others.

At 21:40, guerrillas targeted the other two fronts of the advance attempt, which consisted of 16 occupants in total. In addition to guerrilla rifles, hand grenades were also used in the assault, and none of the soldiers survived. The Turkish units that started to move after the strikes by the guerrillas were again targeted by the sniper units and two more soldiers were killed.

HPG stated that the Turkish army reacted to the heavy losses with massive bombardments of the battle area by helicopters before evacuating its casualties from Girê Cûdî.

YJA Star action in Xakurke

In the Xakurke region, two soldiers were killed as YJA Star guerrillas carried out a sabotage action on 9 October targeting the Turkish units moving between the Girê Şehîd Axîn and Girê Şehîd Şahan areas.

Attacks by the Turkish army

Regarding the attacks of the Turkish army on the guerrilla areas in southern Kurdistan, HPG stated that Girê Çarçel in Metîna was bombed twice on 11-12 October with prohibited explosives and with drones which were also loaded with prohibited explosives. The Turkish army also carried out six attacks with drones loaded with prohibited explosives in Girê Cûdî and Girê Amêdî on 12 October. On the same day, HPG recorded four airstrikes by fighter jets and several helicopter attacks on the western front of Zap, Xakurke and parts of Metîna. Tank and artillery attacks by Turkish ground forces targeted the regions of Zap, Şehîd Delîl Western Zap, Xakurkê and Metîna.