Sinjar Resistance Units | |
---|---|
Yekîneyên Berxwedana Şengalê (YBŞ) | |
Leaders | Sheikh Khairy Khedr † Zeki Shingali †[1] Daniel Kınık |
Dates of operation | 2007–present[2] |
Headquarters | Sinjar, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq |
Ideology | Yazidi regionalism Democratic confederalism |
Political position | Left-wing |
Status | Active |
Size | 1,500+[3] |
Part of | Sinjar Alliance Popular Mobilization Forces[4] |
Allies | Kurdistan Workers' Party Sinjar Women's Units Êzîdxan Protection Force (Until March 2017) People's Protection Units Women's Protection Units Iraq (sometimes) |
Opponents | Islamic State (2019) Turkey Iraq (sometimes) |
Battles and wars | Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) |
Website | Official website |
The Sinjar Resistance Units (Kurdish: Yekîneyên Berxwedana Şengalê; YBŞ) is a Yazidi militia formed in Iraq. It was formed in 2007 to protect Yazidis in the wake of the Qahtaniyah bombings.[7] It is the second largest Yazidi militia, after the pro-KRG Êzîdxan Protection Force (HPÊ).[8] However, it is much more active than the HPÊ in fighting against the Islamic State.[8]
Together with its newly founded all-women offshoot, the Êzîdxan Women's Units (YJÊ), and the Sinjar Protection Units (HPŞ), in October 2015 it founded the all-Yazidi joint command umbrella structure Sinjar Alliance. YBŞ and YJÊ are part of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) and work with the People's Defence Forces (HPG) of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).[9][8] Parts of the YBŞ eventually joined the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) as part of an initiative to integrate into the regular Iraqi Armed Forces; these elements are officially known as the 80th Regiment.[4]
JuT
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).'We have formed a troop of the brave and faithful from the Yazidi clan called the Malik Al-Tawus [King Peacock] troop'