The People’s Defence Forces (HPG), the military wing of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), have reiterated their commitment to resisting the actions of the Turkish state inside Kurdish territories, according to spokesman Serdar Yektaş. Yektaş criticised Turkey for its destructive policies, which he claimed included environmental devastation and the displacement of Kurdish communities, in a live broadcast on Sterk TV by telephone on Monday.
“We are speaking to the destructive actions of the Turkish state,” Yektaş declared, condemning Turkey for its ongoing military operations. He cited recent footage showing trees being cut down in Afrin (Efrîn), describing this as an act of hostility towards nature. He accused Turkey of a long history of annihilation, referring to the burning of thousands of villages in the 1990s and recent attacks on cities such as Jazira (Cizîrê), Sharankh, and Sur (Sûr in Diyarbakır (Amed).
Yektaş asserted that Turkey’s strategy is to depopulate the Kurdish regions in order to establish control over them, annex them and undermine Kurdish sovereignty. He mentioned that in places like Haftanin (Heftanîn) and Avaşin, local residents are currently unable to return to their homes due to the Turkish military presence.
Stressing the unwavering stance of the HPG and the PKK itself, Yektaş stated, “We will resist the occupation and annexation of the lands of Kurdistan. There will be no retreat in this battle. We will fight until we are victorious.” He called for the support of all Kurdish and Arab people in this struggle, asserting that resistance will lead to victory and a free Kurdistan.
Turkey has set up seven new bases in Iraqi Kurdish territory, bringing the total to 71, according to the international monitor Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT). The NGO reported 238 Turkish bombardments in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), primarily in Duhok, displacing 162 villages and threatening 602 more.
The CPT also documented the destruction of 2000 hectares of arable land and warned of a potential permanent Turkish military presence. Turkish incursions have led to the establishment of checkpoints and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, including schools and a Christian monastery. Civil activists have called on the Iraqi presidency, the United Nations and consulates to respond to this violation of sovereignty.
