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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—The Yezidi “Girls of the Sun” battalion are one of the forces providing security in the towns and villages of Sinjar.The all-female battalion was formed under the Ministry of Peshmerga in 2015 and consists mostly of women and girls who were taken captive by the Islamic State (ISIS) when ISIS swept into Sinjar in August 2014.The battalion has 142 Yezidi girls and women fighters. They aim to ensure that the crimes of ISIS will never be repeated.Yasmeen, a lieutenant in the battalion, said “This force, called the Girls of the Sun, belongs to the Peshmerga ministry in Sinjar. We are 140 girls. Most of them were in ISIS captivity and they chose to volunteer with the Peshmerga and carry weapons in order to make sure the same crimes are not repeated against them.”Enas Xiro Amru, another fighter, said “I have joined the force to defend the homeland and because our women were taken by ISIS. And to revenge my sister who was killed by ISIS militants.”“I am ready to go anywhere in the Kurdistan Region to fight. Now we are not afraid of ISIS. They cannot intimidate us anymore,” she added.The women received training on using light and medium weapons. They participated in the operation to retake the center of Sinjar early of this year, providing support for Peshmerga on the frontlines, without taking an active part in the fight. But, they say, they are ready to take on an active combat role.Nadya, a fighter, said “We have been trained on using many of the weapons such bombers, Kalashnikov, BKC [a machine gun] and all weapons. We are patrolling night and day. We have volunteered and came to free our women from ISIS.”The Girls of the Sun battalion is based in the Snuny sub-district, north of Sinjar, and receives military training to carry out their periodic duties and assist with security inside the towns and villages of Sinjar that were retaken by the Peshmerga.