Turkish forces continue their bombardment in the Kurdish-majority province of Bitlis as military operations initiated in the first days of July persist. On Thursday, a People’s Defence Forces (HPG) militant lost his life during the operation.
As the bombardment continues in the rural area, soldiers have laid siege to a barn located in a village within the region. After an individual inside the barn refused to heed the soldiers’ calls to surrender, an explosion resulted in his death.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed through a statement on Twitter that an individual was killed during the operation.
According to Mezopotamya Agency, the continuous explosions have resulted in cracked walls in several houses within the village. The village’s access points are still under restrictions, with numerous soldiers and guards positioned at various locations across the village.
Villagers face hardships
The district of Hizan (Xîzan) in Bitlis declared a curfew on 2 July, leading to a military operation in the rural areas involving numerous soldiers and guards.
Although the curfew was lifted on 6 July, the military operation continued. Subsequently on 14 July, a large area covering several villages was declared a special security zone and entry for citizens was prohibited.
As a consequence of these operations, villagers have endured significant hardships. Prohibitions imposed on their movements and the military actions have taken a toll on their daily lives. The situation escalated into intense clashes, particularly after the authorities designated the area as a “special security zone.” The region faced relentless bombardment from helicopters and drones. One soldier was reported injured in the midst of these confrontations.
Environmental damage mounts
The military operations carried out in Bitlis have resulted in ecological devastation, with hundreds of trees reduced to ashes due to the use of bombs and significant damage caused to the environment by the deployment of military machinery. Additionally, hundreds of trees were cut down to facilitate the operations.