Turkish airstrike targets a car in Shengal

The Turkish state continues its attacks against the Yazidi population in northern Iraq.

A drone attack targeted a car in the Yazidi town of Shengal (Sinjar) in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). 

According to reports from the ground, the attack by the Turkish state was directed against a car of the Yazidi local security forces, Êzîdxan Asayish. The attack resulted in injuries.

On February 27, a drone attack by the Turkish state claimed the lives of YBŞ (Shengal Resistance Units) commanders Pîr Çeko and Agir Cefrî in the town of Khanasor (Xanesor).

Shengal is the last contiguous settlement area of the Yazidi community. In 2014, ISIS invaded the region and committed genocide against the Yazidis. Only the resistance of a few PKK guerrilla fighters was able to prevent the worst and save the lives of hundreds of thousands. The KDP, which collaborated with Turkey, had fled the region overnight and left the population to ISIS, which was massively supported by Turkey.

Years of fighting by the HPG, YJA Star, YPG, YPJ and the newly established Yazidi resistance units YBŞ/YJŞ followed. In 2017, Shengal was liberated and the HPG and YPG/YPJ subsequently withdrew. However, the nightmare did not end with the liberation of the region, as now the KDP, dominated by the Barzani clan, and the Turkish state repeatedly attacked Shengal directly. Since then, there have been dozens of deadly attacks on civilian and military leaders and the population.