The Command of the Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ) issued a statement regarding the Iraqi Army's attacks on the security forces of the Asayîşa Êzîdxanê and the YBŞ and YJŞ (Sengal Women's Units). The command warned that the Iraqi army is still trying to escalate the situation through provocations.

The provocations continue

The YBŞ said: “In the afternoon of 18 April, the Iraqi army directly attacked an Asayîşa Êzîdxanê checkpoint in Digur. The security forces were forced to respond to the Iraqi army's attack. The Asayîşa Êzîdxanê initially only fired warning shots. However, both the security forces and the population were injured.”

The attacks continued the following day, said the Command, adding: “After the incident, on the morning of 19 April at around 2 am, there was an attack on our forces in the areas previously held jointly by the Iraqi army and our units. As part of this attack, the Iraqi troops tried to capture our friends. With the capture of our friends, they wanted to take away from us the places that we liberated from the Islamic State. Despite this attack designed to steal our achievements, our friends avoided responding to the provocation. Nevertheless, the Iraqi army continues to try to provoke an armed conflict.”

"Annihilation attack on Yazidi values"

The YBŞ warned: “Our previous position was based on problem solving and not responding to the provocations. We do not consider these attacks by the Iraqi army to be independent from the attacks by the KDP and the expansionist Turkish state. The Iraqi army's attacks are taking place under pressure from the KDP and the Turkish state. These attacks are designed to persuade our people to accept slavery again. Certain circles in Iraq follow the instructions of the Turkish state and the KDP. This is intended to destroy our political will and put us in the position we were in 2014. We see ourselves as part of Iraq and have always acted together with Iraq. We can neutralize the attacks on Iraqi territory together with Iraq. However, the recent attack on us and our people on this feast day (Çarşema Sor) represents an annihilating attack on our values.”

"The attitude of the Iraqi army forces us to react"

On 9 October 2020, the Iraqi government and the KDP met and decided to split up the self-governing region of Shengal. Ankara directed the meeting behind the scenes. Since then, the KDP and the Iraqi government have been trying to liquidate Shengal's self-government. The YBŞ emphasize that they still worked on a common solution even after 9 October 2020: "Despite this attitude, our achievements and values ​​have been trampled on by the current attacks. The aggressive attitude of the Iraqi army compels us to respond. A comrade fell in the attack and two other friends were injured.”

“We are convinced that we can solve problems through dialogue”

The statement added: “We have always left the path of dialogue open to solve the problem of the recent attacks. We believe that whatever the level, problems can be solved through dialogue. We, YBŞ and YJŞ, have lost hundreds of brave commanders and fighters for the liberation and defense of this country. We liberated our people and our land under the harshest conditions. We waged a relentless war against barbaric Islamic State terror and never gave up our positions. Even now, we will resist any kind of attack. We promise our fallen and our patriotic people that we will defend this ancient land to the last drop of our blood.”