SULAIMANI (ESTA) — An Iraqi soldier and two members of the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS) were killed during clashes between the two sides in Sinjar district, a local official told Esta Media Network on Monday.
Clashes erupted again between the Iraqi military and YBS fighters in west of Sinjar on Sunday night and lasted on Monday.
With the assistance of the People’s Defense Forces (HPG), the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) military wing, Yazidis formed their own self-defense with the Sinjar Resistance Units and the Sinjar Women’s Units after Islamic State (ISIS) attack on the district in 2014.
Director of Sinune sub-district Khudeda Chuki said clashes erupted between the Iraqi military and YBS units in Dugre community in the sub-district due to “disagreements on the establishment of military points”.
Two members of the YBS were killed in airstrikes carried out by Iraqi warplanes, he told Esta Media Network. An Iraqi soldier was also killed in the fighting.
“Citizens of several areas have evacuated their places due to continuous fighting,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Karwan Zaki, head of media office at the directorate of migration and displacement in Duhok, told Esta Media Network that at least 50 families who had fled the clashes in Sinjar had arrived in Duhok province.
“As many as 200 other families are on the way to come to Duhok,” he added.
UNAMI said in a tweet that it was “deeply concerned about clashes in Sinjar, with grave consequences for civilians.”
“Sinjaris’ safety and security should be front and centre. They’ve suffered enormously in the past and deserve peace under state authority. Domestic and external spoilers have no place in Sinjar.”
In April, YBS fighters clashed with the Iraqi military in Sinune town near Sinjar after Iraq’s army requested Ezdikhan Asayish (security) to hand over its base in the town.
Following the clashes, the Iraqi military deployed more troops to the area, according to Iraqi media.
