These attacks are last, their end is at door

Journalist Seid Afren pointed out that the occupation attacks on legitimate defense zones " the Medya" are the beginning of a new phase, and said, "The Kurds will make great gains, and these attacks are the last for Erdogan."

After the failure of the Turkish occupation's attacks on the Gara region on February 10, and on April 23, which marked the 106th anniversary of the Armenians genocide, it began launching new attacks on the Zab, Metina and Avashin regions.

 The Turkish occupation army has launched dozens of genocide attacks outside its borders since 1983, green lighted by world powers, and the last attack began after the meeting between Erdogan and Biden.

Despite the advanced warfare techniques, this occupation attack failed, suffering heavy losses. According to the war statistics of 10 days, from April 23 and May 3th, 147 Turkish soldiers were killed in 116 operations carried out by the guerrilla forces, 6 helicopters and two reconnaissance aircraft were destroyed, in addition to dozens of Turkish fortifications, and the data issued by the Peoples' Defense Forces on the resistance of the guerrilla indicates that these statistics are growing increasing daily.

The President of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Başûr Kurdistan, Masrour Barzani, defined these attacks as “an issue between the PKK and Turkey,” and despite these attacks, he said that they are looking forward to more economic and commercial relations with the Turkish state.

Regarding these attacks and developments in the region and the statements of Turkish officials, our agency held a dialogue with the journalist Syed Afren, who is following this topic closely.

The text of the interview reads

* On April 23, after defeated in Gara, the Turkish state began its attempts to occupy Başûr Kurdistan, so what is the purpose of these attacks, and what the recent developments in the region?

Everyone now admits the defeat of the Turkish state in Gara, and the Justice and Development Party and the National Movement sought to convert this defeat into a false victory, and they tried to take revenge on the HDP at first, and committed major rights violations, then they began their occupation attacks on April 23.

The aim is to turn their defeat into a false victory, but the statements of Hulusi Akar, who said that the region is rugged, despite hving smart and long-range missiles, it became clear that they are trying to hide their defeat.

In fact, the Turkish state is trying to expand its attacks in the four parts of Kurdistan, at the end of 2017 it began with the Bradost region, after occupying Afrin, after a while it re-attacked the Bradost region. In August 2019, it directed its attacks to the Haftanin area, but Haftanin failed them; for this, it attacked Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî, and occupied it. It attacked again Haftanin; for this it is clear that these attacks are occupation plans that are carried out one after the other.

* Why is Başûr Kurdistan, "Southern Kurdistan," specifically under attack?

They target the legitimate defense zones (Medya) because they are liberated areas for guerrilla, which started in Buttan, and there they escalated and spread, and these areas are areas of development and progress of Guerrilla freedom of Kurdistan. Today there are attacks on the line that Iskandar could not pass, they are trying to direct their strikes at these regions, because they have importance in the history and struggle of freedom for the Kurds, and they are chosen with the aim of eliminating the free Kurds.

* Attacks are escalating and intensifying on Gara, Haftanin, Metina and Avashin, what is their strategic importance?

They are the link between Bakûr and Başûr of Kurdistan, for example, they are now attacking are “Mam Rasho and Zagros,” so if they are occupied, the line that follows it will be under control.

 There is a story of Mam Rasho, the villages of that region were burned several times during the Anfal (Mass massacres by the Iraqi regime against Kurds in 1988s), and displaced their inhabitants, where an old man built a house in his village, and he was supporting the Guerrillas until he was killed by the Turkish state in 2015, burned his house, beheaded him and thrown him from the helicopter, in that region there is a spirit of patriotism and resistance.

* The Peoples' Defense Forces (HPG, Guerrillas) stated that there are Syrian mercenaries participating in the occupation attacks. How is the consideration of this issue?

The Turkish state uses Syrian mercenaries before the world eyes. Although many international powers classified them on terrorist lists, Erdogan uses them. why do we not find the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights comments on that. For example, the Kurdistan Başûr satellite channels, when they transported the mercenaries to Karabakh, they announced the presence of mercenaries there, but when it concerns Kurdistan, they become deaf. What I would like to say is, that this matter is also part of the scheme, as they brought in 450 mercenaries from Libya and Karabakh. Erdogan is now trying to carry out an arc between Başûr and Bakûr Kurdistan through these mercenaries. It is necessary to first empty these areas of the Kurds, and unfortunately the forces of Başûr implement this, so who will be resettled there?

* The Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) stated that toxic and chemical gases were used in Medya, and until now there is no international position on this, why?

The Turkish state used chemical weapons against the guerrilla forces for the first time in Judî, and it was reported in many areas, but so far, no international forces have made a statement about this matter, for this reason international forces must also be considered partners in these crimes. The same crime was committed in Halabja as well, and until now the source of the chemical gases has not been revealed. In it, what is clear here is that international law does not see the extermination of the Kurds. When chemical weapons are used against the Kurds.

* How do you evaluate popular attitudes towards these attacks, and KRG's role in them?

The people in Başûr Kurdistan, Southern Kurdistan”, realize that these attacks target the gains of the Kurds in general, and that is why their position was accordingly. There are also popular positions against the attacks, but some forces stand by, because they find their future in this occupation. The Turkish state says that it is in Bashiqa based on the KRG's request. The Iraqi government opposed this matter, and at a time when Turkey was preparing to get out of Bashiqa, it was said that an agreement was reached between those parties. Was this agreement really reached or not? Recently, they began to imitate the AKP as a system of government.

Erdogan acts anti America, but in fact he is a slave to it. The Başûr government also shows itself as in an argument with international powers, in Behdinan, it arrested journalists, accusing them of being the Germans' agents, but their embassy and the European Union have made statements contrary to the KRG's story, and here what must be said is that if the Turkish state achieves its goals in Başûr, nothing will remain of the Kurdish gains, and the Kurds will prevent this.

Europe says that Masrour Barzani has turned the government into a police department. what is clear is that the current administration will not last for long. The Shiites in Iraq reject these attacks, due to their historical contradictions with the Turkish state, but Erdogan tries to build new balances.

* There was contact between the US, the KRG and the Turkish occupation state, and the Iraqi airspace is subject to the United States. What is America's role in these attacks?

The attack began on April 23 following a phone call between Biden and Erdogan after a month of his administration. Erdogan knew that Biden would recognize the genocide of the Armenians, and he was looking for approval for the attack, and at this stage a special delegation met with Masoud, Masrour and Nechervan Barzani, but the content of the meetings was not revealed.

Turkey finds itself in the international coalition, uses the airspace under the name of the international coalition, and the approval of the American administration. Therefore, the attacks on the entire Kurdish movement take place under this umbrella.

* Many assessments confirm that the aim of the plan is not limited to Southern Kurdistan. What are the plans against Şengal, northeast Syria?

The occupation plans to separate the regions from each other, so when Tal Abyad was liberated from ISIS, the Turkish hostility to Rojava intensified, and this is what they seek to do in Başûr. When leaving Rojava, one can reach Zagros and from there to eastern Kurdistan. This line is connected to each other and if it is cut, it will have an impact on Rojava, and this situation applies to Şengal. Because when Rojava is besieged, Şengal is also besieged, and if Turkey implements its plan, Iraq will be affected. Turkey will try to expand its plan in the future, to target Şengal and Mosul, and has officially requested the establishment of military bases in Tal Afar and Mosul to launch an attack on Şengal. Also, during his visit to Iraq, Hulusi Akar raised these demands, but no agreement was reached because Turkey did not reveal the timeframe for this scheme, these are long-term plans.

* If Gara's victory was repeated, what would be the effects?

Their defeat is imminent, and no force will remain in the name of Erdogan and with my shyness, and the Kurds will make important gains. This will be the last war of the Turkish state and Erdogan. If they are defeated in this battle and their defeat at Gara is still fresh in front of the eyes, that will increase their defeat. And in the coming years they'll say there was someone like this. And I think it will be the beginning of a new phase.

(A)

ANHA