The Shingal Resistance Units (YBS) and the Women’s Units in Shingal have announced that 4,150 of their personnel stationed in the war-torn Shingal district of Nineveh Province have been integrated into Iraq’s security forces. The announcement was made during a ceremony held on Monday, October 26.
The ceremony began with the signing of an integration agreement, under which the two forces, made up primarily of members of the Yazidi community, agreed to join Iraq’s security institutions. Their personnel will now receive the same rights and privileges as other members of the Iraqi defense establishment.
Nayef Shammo, head of relations for the Shingal Autonomous Administration Council, under whose umbrella the YBSh and Women’s Units operate, told KirkukNow that the agreement’s terms had been read aloud to attendees and that the commanders of both forces had approved the integration process.
Under the agreement, a total of 4,150 members of the Shingal Resistance Units and the Women’s Units will become part of Iraq’s defense apparatus.
The ceremony was attended by a representative of the Iraqi prime minister, the governor of Nineveh, and several military officials representing both sides.
Shammo explained that all areas previously controlled by the YBS, including Mount Shingal, would now be managed jointly, with military operations conducted by joint forces. He added that weapons had officially come under state control and that the forces would operate under the government’s authority and directives. According to Shammo, the agreement is expected to contribute to greater security and stability in the region.
Shingal, October 26, 2026: (Sinjar: Heart of Iraq) An image showing the integration of YBS forces into the Iraqi security apparatus.
The YBSh and its affiliated women’s units were established in Shingal in 2015, following the occupation of the area by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The forces, composed mainly of local residents, previously operated under the Shingal Autonomous Administration Council, which is considered close to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Shingal, like other parts of Nineveh, experienced intense fighting between 2014 and late 2017, leaving infrastructure severely damaged. Thousands of families remain displaced amid continuing instability and inadequate public services.
Turkey has repeatedly carried out airstrikes in Shingal, citing the presence of armed groups affiliated with the PKK, and has threatened ground operations. Ankara is now pursuing a peace process aimed at disarming the PKK and extending the process to affiliated armed groups in Iraq and Syria.
On September 11, 2026, Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ali al-Zaidi announced that the YBS would hand over its weapons to the state and that Mount Shingal would come entirely under the authority of the federal government. The announcement followed a meeting with a joint delegation representing the YBS and the Yazidi Cause Alliance, a newly established Yazidi political party.
Khudida Chuki, director of the Sinuny sub-district within Shingal, said the agreement would put an end to claims that unofficial armed groups were operating in the area, a characterization that had never been welcomed by the local population. He added that the move would undoubtedly strengthen security throughout the region.
Chuki also noted that the integration process would help pave the way for restructuring the administration of the Shingal district.
In a statement, the Yazidi Cause Alliance welcomed the incorporation of Ezidi forces into Iraq’s security institutions, describing it as an important step toward regulating weapons and security affairs in accordance with the law.
The alliance further characterized the development as an opportunity for Shingal to enter a more stable period, twelve years after the genocide. It said the move could help facilitate the return of displaced residents, compensation for victims, reconstruction efforts, and improvements to public services.
