Active 2007–present Strength 1,500 Founded 2007 | Originated as Malik Al-Tawus | |
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Battles and wars Iraqi Civil War, Sinjar massacre | ||
The Sinjar Resistance Units (Kurdish: Yekîneyên Berxwedana Şengalê; YBŞ), formerly called King Peacock (Arabic: Malik Al-Tawus), is a non-political Yazidi militia formed in Iraq in 2007 to protect the Yazidi community in Iraq in the wake of attacks by Iraqi insurgents. It is the second largest Yazidi militia, after the Protection Force of Sinjar (HPŞ). However, it is much more active than the HPŞ in fighting against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Together with its newly founded all-women offshoot, the Êzidxan Women's Units (YJÊ), and the formerly Peshmerga-aligned HPŞ, in October 2015 it founded the all-Yazidi joint commando umbrella structure Sinjar Alliance. YBŞ and YJÊ consider themselves under the umbrella of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) and are operating in concert with People's Defence Forces (HPG) of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Shammar militias have also supported YBS.
History
The Sinjar Resistance Units took part in the August 2014 Northern Iraq offensive, killing at least 22 Islamic State fighters and destroying five armoured vehicles in the vicinity of the Sinjar Mountains.
Hundreds of Yazidis received training from People's Protection Units (YPG) instructors at the Serimli military base in Qamishli, Syria, before being sent back to the Mount Sinjar frontlines. These forces were re-branded as the "Sinjar Resistance Units".
Its commander Sheikh Khairy Khedr was killed in action during the October 2014 clashes in Sinjar.
There have been increased tensions between the YBS and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). KRG forces largely fled Mount Sinjar when the Islamic State first attacked, leaving many Yazidis resentful and distrustful.
In October 2015, the YBŞ participated in the foundation of the Sinjar Alliance as an all-Yazidi joint commando umbrella structure. Besides their all-women offshoot, the Êzidxan Women's Units (YJÊ), the formerly Peshmerga-aligned Protection Force of Sinjar (HPŞ) and other independent Yazidi units committed to the united Yazidi front.
Under the joint command of the Sinjar Alliance, the Sinjar Resistance Units took part in the November 2015 Sinjar offensive.