The Shingal Resistance Units (YBŞ) has made an agreement with the Iraqi Army to merge most of its members with the Popular Mobilization Units (PMF, colloquially known as Hashd al-Sha’bi).
The YBŞ started withdrawing its force from Shingal town at the end of last to be stationed elsewhere in the district, after a force of the Federal Police were deployed to the town.
“After handing over our bases, the YBŞ has become part of the PMF. One thousand YBŞ members had previously become part of PMF; now another 1,500 combatants will become part of Regiment 80 of the PMF,” said Dakheel Murad, head of the Self-Administration Council of Khanasor subdistrict, who speaks on behalf of the YBŞ.
“The PMF is an official force of the Iraqi government, that’s why it is very normal that our forces have become part of the PMF.”
This change come two months after the signing of the agreement between the Iraqi Federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government on 1 October 2020, which stipulates the formation of a new administration and the reorganization of the security oversight in Shingal district.
Many Ezidis in Shingal are against the agreement, especially supporters of the forces affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and have staged several protests to express their objections.
Khal Ali, of PMF forces in Shingal, told KirkukNow: “Since the liberation of Shingal from ISIS, a large number of YBŞ combatants are part of the Tribal Hashd [which is part of PMF]. After an agreement between the YBŞ and the Iraqi Army, a number of YBŞ combatants were added to Regiment 80 of the Tribal Hashd, but I don’t know how many they are.”
The ‘Tribal Hashd’ were formed in 2017 as part of the PMF for the Sunni-majority regions.
Haval Tékoshar, a member of the YBŞ, had earlier this monts told KirkukNow: “We don’t have any forces left in the town currently; we will remain outside the town in accordance with an agreement between us and the army, until a second agreement [is made].”
The PMF forces and the Ezidkhan Asaiysh are still in their bases inside the Shingal town.
Dakheel Murad said: “The main issue between us and the Iraqi Army is the Ezidkhan Asaiysh, as the army wants [them] to remain [in Shingal town] in civilian clothing, and we reject that proposal. We insist that Asaiysh must remain here and will accept if their name is changed.”
The Ezidkhan Asaiysh was formed after Shingal district was retaken from ISIS militants to secure the town in the districts, and they number more than 1,000.
The Ezidkhan Asaiysh was formed after Shingal district was retaken from ISIS militants to secure the town in the districts, and they number more than 1,000.
The district of Shingal is located about 120 km west of Mosul in Nineveh province. It is considered part of the disputed areas according to the Iraqi constitution.
