Shingal’s Resistance Units (YBŞ) have announced their participation in the upcoming offensive for the liberation of the Islamic State stronghold stronghold Mosul.

YBŞ commander Mazlum Shengali, speaking to Rojnews, said his forces had a promise to fulfill in Mosul: “Dozens of slaves are being held captive in Mosul and its surroundings. We as YBŞ have since our establishment been promising to rescue our captives. Wherever they may be, we will take the necessary steps fo fight the Islamic State not only in Mosul but also in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor in order to get them released.”

Islamic State jihadists invaded the northern Iraqi Shingal region in August 2014, killing thousands of its Ezidi population and forcing thousands of others to flee up Shingal mountain, where many died of thirst. Several thousand women and children – whom IS and allied Sunni tribes have moved to their strongholds in Raqqa and Mosul – were furthermore abducted and have been since forced into sex slavery. The YBŞ combat force was founded in response to these atrocities.

Shengali also took the opportunity to comment on the former Sunni governor of Mosul, Nujaifi, who threatened the YBŞ not to take part in the offensive on Mosul: “Whether other forces or the provincial government want to involve us (in the offensive) or not, some of our territories continue to be under IS control and we will liberate those areas together with our Shammar allies.”

ÊzîdîPress