Turkey is attacking Kurds and Kurdish property in Lice

[Anthea]

Turkish military operation and bombardment in Lice countryside

As the curfew in 12 villages of Amed's Hazro and Lice districts continues, another curfew has been declared in 18 villages of Lice today.

The villages involved in the curfew zone are: Örtülü, Tuzlaköy, Hedik, Kıralan, Yamaçlı, Dernek, Saydamlı, Bayırlı, Yalımlı, Akçabudak, Kılıçlı, Ulucak, Yorulmaz, Baharlar, Yaprakköy, Yünlüce, Güldiken and Üçdamlar.

Following the declaration of the curfew in the mentioned territory, Turkish army has started an operation in Bayırlı (Mêrgê) village. Soldiers are being dispatched to the operation area with Sikorsky helicopters and armored vehicles amid reports of intense gunfire.

Local sources report that helicopters are bombarding the valley and mountainous terrain in the operation zone while large numbers of soldiers and special operations police are conducting surveillance activities.

31 areas in Dersim declared 'security zone' for two weeks

The Turkish state continues to declare numerous territories as so-called security zones across North Kurdistan amid ongoing military operations against the Kurdish armed movement and political operations against Kurdish civilians and their elected representatives.

According to the statement of Dersim Governorate, a total of 31 areas in the countryside of 4 districts have been declared a 'security zone'. The 31 areas in the rural areas of Ovacık, Pülümür, Hozat and Nazımiye districts will remain prohibited from 2 March to 16 March.

[Anthea]

Heavy bombardment in a large-scale Turkish military operation in Lice

Following the curfew declared in 18 villages of Amed's Lice district yesterday morning, 8 thousand soldiers, special operations police and village guards have started an operation in this region.

The operation zone is bombarded with jets, Cobra and Sikorsky helicopters since yesterday amid an intensified military deployment and activity. A large number of armored vehicles and several construction equipment of the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) have also been dispatched to the operation area.

Phone services are interrupted and there is no access to the region since yesterday morning, which makes it impossible to reach the locals living in this territory. Reports suggest that the operation could be expanded to the Çemê Elik, Xirabê and Spênî regions in Lice-Hani-Genç triangle area located between Amed and Bingöl provinces.

Intense gunfire was heard from the rural areas of Bayırlı (Mêrgê) village yesterday.

A related statement by Diyarbakır Governorate announced that 7 thousand gendarmes, 600 special operations police and 559 village guards were joining the operation in addition to 17 helicopters and 84 military vehicles.

[Anthea]

Urgent call for Lice people amid ongoing curfew and military operation

Democratic Society Congress (DTK), Free Women's Movement (TJA) Democratic Regions' Party (DBP) and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) released a statement calling attention to the risk of a massacre during the curfew and military operation in 18 villages of Lice in consideration of the recent practices of genocide, massacre and human rights abuses committed by state forces in Northern Kurdistan territory.

The statement said that:

"No news can be received from the people living in these 18 villages involved in the curfew zone. While traces are still in place of the torture of locals, demolition of their houses and living areas, slaughter of their animals in 5 villages which include Xerabê Bava and Talatê villages of Nusaybin, we call on the public opinion to show sensitivity in order not to allow a similar massacre and destruction in Lice.

In order to protect the people's right to life and to prevent the destruction of their living areas, we call on all our people, those in Amed in the first place, NGOs, international institutions and organisations to act urgently before it is too late."

[Anthea]

Blockade and military operation in Lice villages continue

The operation launched by the Turkish army in the countryside of Amed's Lice district with the participation of 8 thousand soldiers, special operations police and village guards continues.

The large-scale operation started by the Turkish army with the participation of 8 thousand soldiers, special operations police and village guards continues in the rural areas of 18 villages in Amed's Lice district that were placed under a curfew announced on Sunday.

The operation is conducted in an area of 30 kilometers within the boundaries of Amed's Lice district and Bingöl's Genç district, and military activity intensifies in the territory of Zengesor, Xosor, Mergê, Mızak, Hendiv, Barav and Axtigan villages.

Reports suggest that helicopters are conducting bombardments in the operation zone since yesterday noon, and construction equipment dispatched to the area are clearing the snow on roads.

While phone services are interrupted and there is no access to the region for two days, an elderly by the name of Remzi was reportedly detained in Xasor village.

On the other hand, Turkish forces are reported to be conducting raids and searches in the houses where nobody is staying during the winter season. Locals residing in the villages are not allowed to go out and their animals are not fed for three days now.

As the region remains under an entire military blockade, Turkish forces have set up check points at 28 locations including in the villages that are not involved in the curfew zone.

People travelling on Amed-Bingöl highway are stopped at the check point in front of the Baver outpost, and the locals are facing repeated insults by the soldiers.

It is claimed that sporadic clashes are taking place in the rural areas of Mızag and Hendiv villages where the operation intensifies.

In the meantime, a delegation from the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), Free Women's Movement (TJA) Democratic Regions' Party (DBP) and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has left for Lice due to the ongoing military operation.

DTK, TJA, DBP and HDP released a statement yesterday calling attention to the risk of a massacre during the curfew and military operation in 18 villages of Lice in consideration of the recent practices of genocide, massacre and human rights abuses committed by state forces in Northern Kurdistan territory.

The statement said that:

"No news can be received from the people living in these 18 villages involved in the curfew zone. While traces are still in place of the torture of locals, demolition of their houses and living areas, slaughter of their animals in 5 villages which include Xerabê Bava and Talatê villages of Nusaybin, we call on the public opinion to show sensitivity in order not to allow a similar massacre and destruction in Lice.

In order to protect the people's right to life and to prevent the destruction of their living areas, we call on all our people, those in Amed in the first place, NGOs, international institutions and organisations to act urgently before it is too late."