The Press Office of the People’s Defence Forces (HPG) reported in a written statement on Friday that at least fourteen members of the Turkish army have been killed in the latest actions carried out by the guerrillas in the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

According to the statement, eleven of the soldiers were killed in a multi-front attack on Girê Cûdî on Thursday. The mountain massif is located on the strategic western front of the Zap region, where the war in the Medya Defence Zones has been focused for some time.

Regarding the details of the approach at Girê Cûdî, HPG stated that the multi-front attack was carried out using a combination of infiltration-ambush-sniper tactics. In addition to sniper rifles, other medium-weight weapons and hand grenades were also used. The various wings of the attack targeted guard posts, several positions and two military containers. Four positions, three surveillance cameras and a radar system were destroyed, and two containers were damaged.

HPG described the action as a serious defeat for the Turkish military and pointed out that the Turkish army, as usual, concealed the actual extent of the losses from the public. The army has only acknowledged the death of one soldier, while the names of the other ten soldiers killed have been concealed.

Further actions at Girê Cûdî

HPG also provided details of further actions at Girê Cûdî, which were carried out against Turkish occupying forces on 10 January. In one of the actions, a military position was shelled with heavy weapons. In another action, guerrillas from the Free Women’s Troops (YJA Star) prevented an enemy advance and thwarted attempts by Turkish soldiers to establish new positions in the area surrounding the massif. In addition, one soldier was shot dead in a sniper action.

Metîna region

The guerrillas also struck the occupation forces in the Metîna region, targeting the military movements of the Turkish troops centred on Girê Ortê. On 9 January, guerrillas targeted occupiers in open terrain twice with heavy artillery. On 11 January, two positions were shelled and heavily damaged.

Xakurke region

On 11 January, the invaders in Girê Şehîd Kamûran were targeted by the guerrillas first with heavy weapons at 16:00 and then with a coordinated action at 16:15. The first arm targeted two positions of the invaders and hit them from close range. The second arm effectively hit the invaders with assassination tactics. As a result of the actions carried out by YJA Star guerrillas, 2 invaders were killed and 2 positions were damaged.

Attacks by the Turkish army

On 8 January, the battle positions of the guerrillas in the Sîda Resistance Area in Zap region were bombed with banned explosives.

On 9, 10 and 11 January, the areas of Dergelê, Bêşîlî, Serê Metîna in Metîna region were bombed by fighter jets 6 times; the areas of Girê Bahar, Girê Cûdî in Şehîd Delîl Western Zap region were bombed 4 times, and the area of Ava Lolanê in Xakurkê region was bombed 6 times.

The regions of Zap, Şehîd Delîl Western Zap, Metîna and Xakurkê were bombarded with artillery.

The occupying Turkish army attacked the guerrilla positions in the Sîda Resistance Area in the Zap region between 7 January and 10 January and tried to drill tunnels and destroy them with diggers.