NEWS CENTRE - Pointing out that Turkey's strategy to take control of the Zap region has failed, "They are blocked and their support is decreasing. We are seeing the opposite of what they say," says journalist Kurtay Serhat.

 

For more than 3 years, Turkey has been intensively bombarding the Zap, Metîna and Avaşîn regions of the Federated Kurdistan Region both from the air and on the ground. Dozens of villages have been evacuated due to the ongoing attacks. In addition, the ecology of the region has been seriously damaged.

 

Turkey carries out its attacks together with the Kurdistan Democrat Party's (KDP) special units. KDP's special units are leading the attacks in many areas. In this context, dozens of military bases and outposts have been built so far in the areas where the attacks were carried out and evacuated.

 

While clashes continue in the region, Minister of Defence Yaşar Güler stated that "Now the lock is closed in Zap".

 

Journalist Kurtay Serhat, who has been following the events closely, evaluated what happened during the attacks that have been going on for more than 3 years, the base areas established, the role of the KDP in the attacks, the situation of the evacuated villages and the latest statements of the ministry.

 

NEARLY 100 MILITARY POINTS WERE BUILT

 

Serhat said that Turkey has been attacking the region since 2016 and wants to implement a strategy similar to the one it implemented in Bab in Syria. Turkey aims to completely control the region said Serhat and added: "They still want to continue this method. Because after the failed operation in Garê on 10-14 February 2021, the situation completely turned against the Turkish army. Since 2018, the Turkis army had not been able to fully control Xakurkê, that is, the places where the soldiers came from until Heftanîn."

 

Drawing attention to Turkey has built nearly 100 military points in the region for more than 3 years, Serhat stated that although some of the military points were temporarily closed, most of them were built as police stations. "There are heavy weapons such as tanks, howitzers and air defence systems. Helipads and roads are also being built on land. Most of these military points are also being built permanently," he said. 

 

'THEY ARE STUCK AND THEIR SUPPORT IS WANING' 

 

Serhat said that the bases built by Turkey are protected by KDP forces and continued: "Despite this, they cannot advamce in these areas. Undoubtedly, the goal fo the Turkish state is broad. However, if we consider the issue militarily, the goal was to 'fly Turkish flag in Qandil' as Bahçeli said. There was a plan to occupy the region up to Qandil. Accordingly, they received great support from the states in Rojava and NATO. They took the Kurdish collaborator (KDP) with them and thought they could destroy the guerrilla this time. However, they were blocked at the first stage and this support is diminishing day by day. They could not even take a step forward according to the goals and objectives they set before them. If you want to see the progress of the Turkish army, look at the map; they were able to advance from the Çukurca border to Kurojaro. That is 25-30 kilometers. However, they have not been able to clarify this for 4 years. From the Çukurca border to Qandil is about 250-300 kilometers.” 

 

KDP'S COOPERATION 

 

Serhat pointed out that the KDP mobilized to support Turkey in the attacks, “The situation of the KDP is very tragicomic. They do this cooperation under the name of peshmerga. They have even defiled this sacred word. The role and mission of the KDP is obvious; it is known that Turkish soldiers came to the positions wearing peshmerga clothes in order for the military points to fall into the hands of the Turkish army. This situation still exists. This situation still exists in the buffer zones between the guerrilla and PDK. This is not something hidden,” he said. 

 

LIVING BEINGS ARE TARGETED

 

Noting that the ecology was seriously damaged due to the attacks, Serhat said that even animals are targeted. "There is no example of this mentality in the world. For years, nature and all living creatures in the region have been targeted by the Turkish army due to bombing and fires. Herds of pigs and mountain goats are being bombed. The rivers of the region are being bombed. For what reason are these animals being slaughtered? It was said that their techniques were not good, that they could not distinguish between living things. But then we saw that a technique that can separate animals was used. The Turkish army is currentlu commiting genocide."

 

NEARLY 100 VILLAGES EVACUATED

 

Stating that nearly 100 villages in the region have been evauated so far due to the attacks, KDP also imposed spying on the residents of the region said Serhat and added: "The evacuated villages are bombed and burned. This is something that happens as a result of the KDP's practice. The Turkish state is already doing this. However, all of the villages are being evacuated as a result of the instructions of the KDP rather than the pressure of the Turkish state. The people of the region have seen and witnessed many things in the last 4 years."

 

Noting that Turkey is able to conitnue its attacks with the support of Baghdad and Hewlêr, Serhat said: "It is difficult to say anything clear for the future. What is clear is that the Turkish state's plan to destroy the guerrilla is about to fail. However, it still has not given up on this plan and insists on it. The current situation of the KDP and Iraq is in line with this. If the KDP and Iraq continue to cooperate in this war, this war will continue and deepen. However, if they do not join the war, there will be nothing left for the Turkish state here.” 

 

'WE SEE THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THEY SAY'

 

Pointinh to the issue of "the lock is closed", which is covered by government officials and the ruling media, Serhat continued as follows: "We see the opposite of what they say. Everytime they say 'we will and the PKK', the PKK takes bigger steps. They make the Turkish public believe their lies. Everyone should ask the following questions; 'Is the PKK over or is it changing its style and method according to the conditions of the day?' If it was over, how could it carry out acts like Ankara (TAI)? Why have so many operations been carried out every day, every month, every year for 4 years? Every day they say 'the lock is closed, it will be closed'. Why doesn't this lock close?”