Country Turkey Size unknown | Type Light infantry militia | |
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Active 20 December 2015–present Engagements Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978-present)
Kurdish–Turkish conflict (2015-present) | ||
The Civil Protection Units (Kurdish: Yekîneyên Parastina Sivîl, [jɛkinɛjen parastɪna sɪvil]; YPS), also known as Civil Defense Units, is a primarily Kurdish rebel group and main armed force in Northern Kurdistan (Turkey). It was claimed that the YPS was originally formed on 20 December 2015 by the Kurdish rebels as a version of the YPG in Northern Kurdistan (Turkey). The YPS is mainly composed of members of the YDG-H, who have been operating since 2013. The YPS is currently training for conventional urban warfare against the Turkish government; previous Kurdish rebel groups have followed predominantly guerilla tactics of warfare, however the new method of warfare seen in the Kurdish-Turkish conflict has led to speculation of civil war in Turkey.
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The nature of links between the YPS and the PKK in Northern Kurdistan is disputed. They both have the same ideology and both have waged an armed struggle for cultural and political rights and self-determination for Kurds.
The YPS initially took a defensive posture in the Kurdish-Turkish conflict (1978-present) and has become a major opponent of the Turkish army (TSK) and Turkish government and has co-operated with Kurdish opposition fighters against TSK. Multiple branches of the YPS have been formed in Kurdish districts in Turkey, usually as a result of clashes or curfews imposed by the Turkish government.
YPS-Jin
The Civil Protection Units-Women' or Civil Defense Units-Women (Kurdish: Yekîneyên Parastina Sivîl a Jin, YPS-Jin)' is a Kurdish militia that was set up in 2016 as the female brigade of the YPS (Yekîneyên Parastina Sivîl, YPS) militia.