In an effort to isolate the Yazidi community and divide the populations in Shengal, the Iraqi government is putting pressure on Arab villages. According to reports, numerous homes have been raided by military forces.
The Iraqi army builds a wall on the border between Rojava and Shengal (Sinjar). At the same time, the residents of Arab villages in Shengal are being put under pressure. As RojNews reports from the region, military forces have entered homes in several villages and threatened people to prevent them from protesting.
The Iraqi military presence in Shengal continues to expand. In order to stop protests against this, the Iraqi government increasingly relies on dividing the Yazidi and Arab populations. In protest of the border wall, Arabs and Yazidis held a joint demonstration on March 13. Since then, the pressure on the Arab population has increased. According to RojNews, a battalion under the command of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is responsible for the crackdown on the population.
According to the report, soldiers literally raided homes in the town of Sinune as well as in the villages of Hesawik, Bircari and Tilmishrif, which are only a few kilometers from the border with Rojava. Evidence of weapons possession was cited as the reason for the searches. Threats were made to those affected not to speak about the searches and, above all, not to comment on them to the media. Residents of Arab villages were urged to stop protesting the construction of the wall and not to participate in activities. The Iraqi National Security Department is reported to be lobbying the Arab population by telephone to stop protests.
