People's Defense Units (YPG) Press Office released a written statement about the attacks and violations of the Turkish army and affiliated gangs against Northern Syria for the past 5 days.

The statement by YPG Press Office is as follows:

“Attacks and violations of the invading Turkish army and gangs under their command against Rojava Kurdistan continue, with attacks intensifying and expanding mainly on Efrîn border.

On 30.06.2017, gangs affiliated with the invading Turkish army attacked Îska and Baxtiyar hills in Efrîn's Cindirêsê district with mortars. During the same hours, the Dêwa hill was also attacked with DShK weapons. Our forces responded to the attacks with heavy weaponry but the number of casualties inflicted on the gangs couldn't be clarified.

The gangs also attacked the villages of Basûfanê and Bircikê Silêman in Efrîn's Shêrawa district, and the Belûniyê village in Efrîn's Shera district with mortars. Our forces responded to both attacks immediately.

On the same day, our forces spotted gang members preparing for an attack on Efrîn's Maranez village. One gang member was confirmed killed in ensuing clashes, while the higher number of casualties couldn't be clarified.

On 01.07.2017, gangs affiliated with the invading Turkish army attacked Belûniyê, Eyn Deqnê and Minniqê villages in Efrîn's Shera district with howitzer fire, as well as the Baz and Barîn hills in Efrîn's Cindirêsê district with DShK weapons.

Separately, the Turkish army violated the border, entering the Baliya hill in Efrîn's Bilbilê district with construction equipment and bulldozers to form new emplacements. Our forces responded to the Turkish army and destroyed a bulldozer of theirs.

During the same hours, the gangs attacked Martyr Shilan and Îska hills in Efrîn's Cindirêsê district, Maranez, Eyn Deqnê, Bêlûniyê villages in Efrîn's Shera district and Basûfanê village in Efrîn's Shêrawa district with mortar, howitzer, DShK and BKC weapons.

As a result of these attacks, fire erupted in Maranez village and the fields of the villagers burned. The same day, Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles flew over Kobanê and Turkey-affiliated gangs attacked Kobanê's Şêxler town east of the Euphrates with mortars.

At 16:00 on 03.07.2017, gangs affiliated with the invading Turkish army attacked Efrîn's Shera district and its Qestelê village with howitzers and heavy weaponry. The gangs also attacked Martyr Shilan hill, Maranez, Malikiyê, Xalta, Cilbirê, Eyn Deqnê, Belûniyê, Basûfanê and Bircikê Silêman villages in Efrîn's Shêrawa district with howitzers and mortars amid an activity of unmanned aerial vehicles. Fields of the locals in Maranez and Bêlûniyê villages were also set on fire and damaged by the gangs.

Our forces responded to the gangs in Maranez, Basûfanê, Eyn Deqnê, Azaz and Marê. While two diggers the gangs used to form emplacements near Maranez and Basûfanê villages were damaged, no concrete information could be verified regarding the casualties suffered by the gangs.

The same day, the gangs attacked Basûfanê village in Efrîn's Shêrawa district and the Zin stream valley in Efrîn's Cindirêsê district with mortar and DShK fire.

As result of these attacks, 3 civilians were massacred and another 8 were wounded in Kefer Entan village in Efrîn's Shera district. The same day, Turkish soldiers detained many Raqqan refugees that tried to cross the border through the Xizêl village of Girê Spî, and sent them back to the Rojava side after subjecting them to torture. As the civilians walked back towards Girê Spî, the Turkish soldiers targeted them with artillery fire, leaving 2 of them dead and 4 others wounded.

The same day, the Turkish army attacked Heşarkê Bridge with mortar and DShK fire, which faced an immediate response from our forces.”

The Turkish army and affiliated gangs continue their attacks and violations against Efrîn and surrounding villages in all intensity. Clashes are ongoing at the moment.”