NEWS CENTER - A crisis broke out between the soldiers and the rangers in Heftanîn, which was not in Turkey's cross-border plans and where fierce clashes have been going on for days. Stating that there was distrust between them and the soldiers, some rangers said, "Soldiers can no longer hold on in Heftanîn."

 

The war has deepened on the border of the Federated Kurdistan Region, where Turkey has been carrying out extensive attacks since April 17 in cooperation with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). The plans of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) for Zap, Metîna and Avaşîn were disrupted by the loss of 8 soldiers in the clash that broke out on Mount Cudi on April 30 for the first time. The "Plan B" of the TAF, which was stuck in Zap and started a military operation in the Cudi, Gabar and Besta regions, was turned upside down this time with the loss of many soldiers in the unplanned attack against Heftanîn.

 

SOLDIERS AND RANGERS DON'T TRUST EACH OTHER 

 

A ranger who was put forward by the soldiers to fight in Heftanîn, on the border of the Federated Kurdistan Region of Şırnak's Uludere district, said that with the increase of casualties, the distrust between the soldiers and the ranger deepens. Stating that they had constant arguments with the soldiers, the ranger said: “They send us before them and we go ahead of them in the operations. When PKK members attack, they directly target the soldiers. That's why the soldiers don't trust us. They get angry with us. The soldiers wonder why the PKK is not shooting the rangers. We used to go to operations in plain clothes, lately they're dressing us all in military camouflage."

 

 

Stating that they are constantly being put forward in the land search, the rangers said, “They wait about 100-150 meters behind us. All the rangers are removed from the area immediately after a clash with the PKK.  They send us forward to fight with them because they are afraid of them. And theys ent us away when soldiers die. We don't trust the soldiers and the soldiers don't trust us."

 

'SOLDIERS CAN NO LONGER HOLD ON'

 

Stating that they no longer had the strength to hold on and they were on the verge of resignation, the rangers said, “The sergeants are already running away. The rest are looking for a way to escape. When there were violent clashes, many expert sergeants went on leave and did not return. Since there are those who do not come back, those who are still there are no longer allowed to take a leave.”