Turkish Airstrikes Hit Yazidi Militia in Iraq, Killing Two and Wounding Seven

Iraqi security sources reported a new round of Turkish airstrikes in northern Iraq, hitting the Sinjar Province. The strikes hit the intelligence headquarters and a council building there.

The strikes killed two members of the Yazidi YBS militia, and wounded seven others. Fires were reported in Sinjar after the strikes, and damage was reported at several shops as well.

The Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS) are a Yazidi group formed after the ISIS war. The Yazidi minority suffered heavily under ISIS and wanted to have groups to protect themselves. The Turkish-based PKK were active in resisting ISIS in Sinjar, and became allies to the YBS.

Turkey being constantly at war with the PKK as they are, labeling them “terrorists,” they have similarly gone after the YBS, and the Yazidis in general, in this latest anti-PKK offensive.