The Iraqi army’s military build-up around the Yazidi town of Shengal (Sinjar) in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) has been accelerated in recent days.

The Baghdad government's plan to build a wall between Shengal and Rojava has escalated tensions.

The Democratic Autonomous Assembly of Shengal made a press statement in the Kers Valley together with its co-chairs, members of civil society and Yazidi organizations.

The statement read out by Xezal Reşo, Co-Chair of the Democratic Autonomous Assembly, condemned the "siege" by the Iraqi army.

“By building this wall, they want to end our friendship and break our connections with Rojava and besiege the region. If there is an attack on Shengal, the whole region will be put in jeopardy. This poses a major threat to the components in the region. We call on all authorities to stop the construction of the wall and to end the crackdown on Shengal,” the statement said.