Jump to content

Sinjar massacre

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by TorontoKRD (talk | contribs) at 11:00, 15 December 2014. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Shingal massacre
Part of the Northern Iraq offensive (August 2014) and 2014 American intervention in Iraq

Yezidi Temple in Shingal.
Date3–14 August 2014
(1 week and 4 days)
Location
Shingal, Kurdistan
Result ISIS captures Sinjar (Shingal)[14] and massacres 500 Yazidis;[15] U.S. airstrikes and Kurdish forces break ISIS siege[16][3][4][5] of 50,000 Yazidis on Mount Shingal[17]
Belligerents

Kurdistan

Supported by: United States United States[11]

ISIS
Casualties and losses
500 Yazidis killed (Yazidi MP claim)[15]
50,000 displaced[17]

The Sinjar massacre was conducted by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) as part of the August 2014 offensive. Sinjar or Shingal (Kurdish: شنگال Şingal) was one of many towns captured during ISIS's offensive in early August 2014. Zumar was also taken over by ISIL, as well as the Mosul Dam. The Kurds appealed to the government of United States for air support to assist their cause. Kurdish army officials Peshmerga also said to a newspaper in an interview that air strikes are needed badly to stop a possible ISIS invasion into Kurdistan.

On 7 August, the U.S. President, Barack Obama, stated that the U.S. would use air power to assist trapped civilians threatened with acts of genocide and attack ISIS forces. Obama stated that his decision was made because U.S. "leadership is necessary to underwrite the global security and prosperity", "to protect our [American] people," to "support our allies," to "lead coalitions of countries to uphold international norms," "to prevent a potential act of genocide," and to "strive to stay true to the fundamental values—the desire to live with basic freedom and dignity."[18]

Background

Shingal was a predominantly-Kurdish Yazidi before the ISIS takeover, and the invasion forced most to leave their homes. ISIS declared a so-called "Caliphate" in June 2014 in areas of Syria and Iraq and have since gained more areas in both countries.

ISIL take over

Main article: Persecution of Yazidis by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

On the morning of 3 August, ISIL forces advanced into and captured Shingal.[14]

According to the United Nations, thousands of refugees were expelled from the city and lacked basic amenities. In parallel, the humanitarian disaster drew a harsh response by the Kurdish military Peshmerga and ISIS faced the first great resistance after its offensive in Iraq in June 2014. According to some reports as many as 500 Kurdish Yazidis were massacred in the ISIS attack and its aftermath,[15] and dozens more died of hunger, while fleeing the ISIS advance.

Tahseen Said, Mir of the Yazidis, issued a plea on 4 August 2014 to world leaders, concerning the plight of the people being attacked by ISIS.[19]

The Yazidis were besieged by ISIS on Mount Shingal, facing starvation and dehydration.[20][21]

U.S. airstrikes and humanitarian aid

Main article: 2014 American intervention in Iraq

On 8 August, US F/A-18 fighters bombed ISIS artillery units. Four U.S. fighters later bombed an ISIL military convoy.[22] Another round of U.S. airstrikes in the afternoon struck 8 ISIL targets near Erbil. Armed drones as well as fixed wing aircraft were used in the U.S. attacks.[23]

U.S. and U.K. planes dropped food and water for Yazidis stranded on the Sinjar (Shingal) Mountains and surrounded by ISIS forces firing on them, while France pledged aid to refugees.[24]

On 14 August, U.S air-strikes and Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units from [[Western Kurdistan], together with their PKK allies from Turkey,[3][4][5] broke the ISIS siege of Mount Shingal, allowing thousands of refugees to escape.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Yazidi survivor recalls horror of evading ISIS, death". CNN.
  2. ^ Pamuk, Humeyra (26 August 2014). "Smugglers and Kurdish militants help Iraq's Yazidis flee to Turkey". Reuters. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Roussinos, Aris (16 August 2014). "'Everywhere Around Is the Islamic State': On the Road in Iraq with YPG Fighters". Vice News. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d "National news from McClatchy DC News - Washington DC". Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d Shelton, Tracey (29 August 2014). "'If it wasn't for the Kurdish fighters, we would have died up there'". Global Post. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  6. ^ Syrian Kurds provide Iraq's Peshmerga support against ISIS. Middleeastmonitor.com (4 August 2014).
  7. ^ "Rückeroberung von Jalula: YRK und HPJ entsenden Guerillakräfte" (in German). Kürdische Nachrichten. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  8. ^ "YRK-HPJ gerillaları Celawla yolunda" (in Turkish). Firat News Agency. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  9. ^ Haqiqi, Fuad (25 August 2014). "In Iran, Limited Support for IS Among Small Number of Salafis". Rudaw English. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  10. ^ Muhammad, Kamran (11 August 2014). "PDKI Peshmerga Forces Fought Bravely in the Liberation of Makhmour and Gwer". PDKI Official Website. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  11. ^ "US conducts 2nd airdrop of food, water to Iraqi refugees after airstrikes". Fox News. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  12. ^ "U.S. Navy Strikes ISIS Targets in Iraq". USNI. 8 August 2014.
  13. ^ "U.S. provides aid to Yezidis". USAF. 14 August 2014.
  14. ^ a b Sunni Extremists in Iraq Seize 3 Towns From Kurds and Threaten Major Dam
  15. ^ a b c Iraq: 'Hundreds of Yazidi minority slaughtered'. CNN.
  16. ^ a b Militants’ Siege on Mountain in Iraq Is Over, Pentagon Says
  17. ^ a b "10,000 Yazidis rescued through safe corridor, as ISIL 'fire on aid helicopters'". Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  18. ^ Kliff, Sarah (7 August 2014). "President Obama's full statement on the Iraq crisis", Vox
  19. ^ George Packer, "A Friend Flees the Horror of ISIS" The New Yorker, 8 August 2014
  20. ^ "UN Security Council condemns attacks by Iraqi jihadists". BBC News. 7 August 2014. Archived from the original on 7 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 8 August 2014 suggested (help)
  21. ^ Levs, Josh (7 August 2014). "Will anyone stop ISIS?". CNN. Archived from the original on 7 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  22. ^ U.S. warplanes, drones strike ISIS in Iraq, again –. CNN.
  23. ^ "The New York Times". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  24. ^ French FM in Iraq to Boost Aid Efforts. ABC News (27 June 2014).
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sinjar_massacre&oldid=638194389"