Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP) dispatched tanks to Shengal region through the Rabia town yesterday. 5 of these tanks have been deployed in the village of Cidalê east of Shengal. KDP forces are stationed in the border village of Cidalê, beyond which Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ) positions are located in the Xiyalê village they liberated on 12 November, 2016.

On the other hand, 3 other tanks KDP dispatched to Shengal region yesterday have been deployed in Sinunê town which KDP-affiliated gangs use as a military base since their attack on Êzidîs and YBŞ forces on March 3rd. Following this attack, many Êzidîs residing in the town moved to Mount Shengal to protest the KDP.

It grabs attention that the KDP increases its military activities around Shengal after KDP intelligence official Masrour Barzani's visit to the US at the same time with that of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Speaking at the think tank Heritage Foundation in the US, Masrour Barzani uttered the following threat against Shengal: “PKK carries its problems into the borders of Kurdistan. PKK does not provide support for the reconstruction of Shengal and surroundings. We want PKK to respect the sovereignity of Kurdistan administration. PKK should leave Shengal peacefully.”

KDP-affiliated gangs launched an attack on Êzidîs in Shengal's Khanasor town after KDP President Masoud Barzani's visit to Turkey in late February. On April 22, Turkey conducted an aerial bombardment on Shengal and Rojava and KDP blamed the PKK for the attack.