YBŞ/YJŞ: We have the power to respond to every attack on our soil

Shengal/Women's Resistance Units (YBŞ/YJŞ): "In every condition and possibility we will defend the region. We have the power to respond to every attack on our soil. For two and a half years, we've paid much for this."

Shengal/Women's Resistance Units (YBŞ/YJŞ) Commands released a statement about the attack of KDP forces on Shengal.

The statement said the followings:

On March 2, a group of gangs, called "Roj Peshmergas" led by ENKS, made their way from Sihelan and Duhok to Shengal. These groups of gangs came to Khanesor at 13:30. Our forces talked to this group to find out why they came here. It was understood from the talks that this group wanted to occupy Shengal and control other areas in the hands of our forces.

When our people in the region heard the arrival of these groups of gangs, they disagreed with them, standing against them and all the children, women and elderly people expressed their anger. At the same time, our forces took measures to prevent this group from progressing and for no other tension to take place.

On the other hand, our efforts continued for this group to go back. But despite all our efforts, in the morning of March 3, these groups of gangs attacked our forces simultaneously from many sides with 30 Humvees, armored vehicles and all kinds of weapons. For this reason, our forces responded to the attack in the framework of defense and clashes began.

The clashes lasted approximately 3 hours, in which seven of our comrades reached martyrdom and 20 of our comrades were injured. Two of our fallen comrades are HPG fighters. These comrades were also martyred because they did not want to get involved and fight.

It is very strange and meaningful that this attack was launched after the Ankara talks. It is very clear that these attack plans were planned during those talks. These aggressive gang groups were directly trained and financed by Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT). In this framework, these groups of gangs are used everywhere for the interests of Turkey.

Among these gangs, there are Sunni Muslim groups which attacked our people alongside the Daesh gangs in the Shengal edict period.

Our Ezidi people in no way accept such a group to be on their territory and see it as occupying forces.

We are not against the peshmerga groups of the Kurdistan Region entering Shengal. There are already peshmerga groups in Shengal.

These gang groups are now preparing a new assault against our forces in all of Shengal. As long as this is the case, tension will be the basis. In every condition and possibility we will defend the region. We have the power to respond to every attack on our soil. For two and a half years, we've paid much for this.

We foremost call to the Êzidî people, all the Kurdish peoples; Do not be silent against these brutal attacks, show your response with a national and united spirit. This attack is the continuation of the 73rd Edict, so the Êzidî people should approach this with consciousness and maintain their struggle in Kurdistan and abroad. We are addressing the Êzidî peshmerga forces which are affiliated to the KDP; Do not be a part of these games. These groups of gangs are against all the values of Êzidîs and Kurdistan.”