Deniz Aydın
“The ongoing military operation that was launched by Turkey on 23 April in the Zap, Metina and Avashin regions of Iraqi Kurdistan could not achieve it’s stated aims against the guerrilla resistance despite all the high-tech weaponry and chemical warfare they deployed. As such, the Turkish state, together with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which cooperates with Turkey, have begun to consider their options for a new attack, this time targeting Qandil,” writes Deniz Aydın for Hawar News Agency.
The increased mobility of the occupying Turkish state’s forces and the forces affiliated with the KDP in Darêbiyê (Zergelê) region, which is a strategic transition point between Mount Qandil and Kārūkh (Karox) are evaluated as preparation for a fresh attack.
The KDP has established military points in Zine Wertê, Garê and most recently in Metîna, Avashin and Zap regions in order to pave the way for the Turkish army and has actively supported the Turkish military assault and laid ambushes on the transit routes of the guerrilla forces.
According to the information we have received as of October, the KDP and its affiliated forces have been gathering intelligence together with the Turkish National Intelligence Organisation, also known as the MIT in the region. Local sources informed us that the KDP forces have driven off with a group of 4 MIT officers with special vehicles, from Diyana first to Zînê Wertê, and then to Darêbiyê (Zergelê).
In order the avoid any reactions from local people, MIT officers are dressed in the uniforms of the KDP forces, disguising themselves. They are presently positioned near the Darêbiyê hill.
The increased mobility of the KDP forces and MIT officers in this region raises new questions about whether or not these are preparations to lay the ground for an attack against Mount Qandil? This question is not irrelevant at all, because whenever it gets stuck in a crisis, the Turkish state resorts to the same old policy of triggering new crises. The observers who monitor the region closely believe that such an attempt to lay the groundwork for an attack against Qandil might be realised as part of this policy which has always been followed by Turkey.
Despite the extensive and intense military assault launched by the Turkish state targeting the Metîna, Avaşîn and Zap regions, Turkey has not been able to enter the areas of the People’s Defence Forces (HPG) and Free Women’s Units (YJA Star) guerrilla. When the first troops were so badly defeated, they had to send new support units, who were also stopped by the guerrilla surrounding the area near the war tunnels. Having been defeated in Metîna, Zap and Avaşîn, Turkey had to send new forces once again, but has not been able to achieve any results. Then they began to launch airstrikes that has now become their preferred and routine type of attack.
However, it was quite different when Turkey first launched military operations, they were very confident that they would destroy the guerilla forces. Manned and unmanned aircraft were the major grounds for such a self-confidence. According to this plan based on waging an asymmetrical war against the guerrilla with these high-tech aircrafts, the guerrilla was expected to fall in a few weeks and Turkey was expected to create a new discourse of heroism based on their victory against the guerrilla.
However, this has not happened. After months of attacks, Turkish forces have hit the hard reality of the guerrilla, who put up an unexpectedly strong resistance. They are now almost stuck amid the mountains. Weeks have passed, months have passed, and Turkey, finally, resorted to the KDP to overcome this deadlock.
And now, the cooperators of the colonisation of the Kurds and the occupying Turkish state prepare for an assault targeting Qandil, according to the information we receive from the locals in the region.
It is hard to foresee the results of such an assault against Qandil, but we at least know what is happening in Metina, Zap and Avashin and we should not remember what happened in Gare, where Turkey also experienced a major blow.
Will there be an attack against Qandil with a partnership between the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the KDP? If such an attack was launched, would it enable them to save themselves from the crisis in which the guerrilla has dragged them into, also enabling them to find a valid excuse why they passed a motion of war in the parliament?
Only time will give us all the answers of these questions.
