Iraqi Army Deploys Heavy Weapons to Sinjar Following Clashes with YBS
According to a security source, the YBS declared its readiness to resist and engage in further combat against Iraqi forces.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The Iraqi army has brought heavy weapons into Sinjar following violent clashes with the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS), raising concerns over escalating tensions in the region.
A Kurdistan24 correspondent reported that the Iraqi Ministry of Interior ordered the deployment of the Law Enforcement Command to Sinjar (Shingal), leading to the closure of several roads in the area.
According to a security source, the YBS declared its readiness to resist and engage in further combat against Iraqi forces. The latest round of confrontations left casualties on both sides, with three YBS fighters and five Iraqi soldiers and policemen injured.
Ambush and Rising Tensions
Local sources reported that the Iraqi army carried out an ambush targeting a vehicle belonging to the Yazidi Self-Defense Forces (YBS), critically injuring one fighter. In response, the YBS issued a statement demanding the immediate release of five of its detained members, threatening to resume hostilities if their demands were not met, With no duration determined.
The conflict escalated after Iraqi authorities arrested the YBS fighters, prompting the group to issue a 24-hour ultimatum. Meanwhile, the Nineveh Province investigative court has issued arrest warrants for five members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on terrorism charges, accusing them of involvement in the kidnapping of a government employee.
Obstacles to Stability and Reconstruction
The escalating violence further undermines efforts to implement the Sinjar Agreement, a deal signed between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Iraqi federal government to restore stability in the region. Despite international calls for peace, the continued presence of PKK-affiliated groups like the YBS has hindered the return of thousands of displaced Yezidis.
While the YBS claims to act as a protector of the Yezidi community, its actions have contributed to the militarization of the region, further complicating reconstruction and the return of displaced families. As tensions escalate, the fragile security situation in Sinjar remains a pressing concern for both the Iraqi government and local residents.