The HPG Press Liaison Centre (HPG-BIM) said in a statement: “On 27 May 2024 at 03:45, an AKSUNGUR-type UCAV (Armed Combat Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) of the Turkish state was shot down by our guerrilla forces in the skies of Qandil.”

In a statement on 20 March, HPG Central Headquarters Command released a list of Turkish drones which were downed by guerrilla forces starting from 13 February last year.

The HPG said Kurdish people were able to acquire the missile system and provide it to the guerrilla “despite all the efforts of the enemy (Turkish state) to isolate our people in the international arena.”

The HPG’s statement followed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) Executive Committee member Murat Karayilan’s interview on March 15, saying that they would announce “good news” on the eve of Newroz, Kurdish New Year.

According to the statement, the first downing of an armed drone was on February 13, 2023, over Garê in South Kurdistan.

Six of the 15 downed drones were TB2 BAYRAKTAR type drones. Five were ANKAs, two were AKINCIs and two were AKSUNGURs.