Shengal AA warns of security threats, calls on Iraqi govt. to take action

The Autonomous Administration in Shengal issued a statement, in which it warned of new threats to the region's security and stability, stressing the strategic and sensitive importance of Shengal in light of the current regional transformations.

The statement included,

"With the rapid and sudden transformations taking place in the Middle East today, our region of Shengal, as a strategic and sensitive area, has gained immense importance and is once again facing new and alarming dangers. According to the information available to us, new plans are currently threatening Shengal. These plans, whether through the intervention of foreign military forces or the mobilization of extremist groups operating by force, entirely aim at undermining the security of the region and our people's vision for their future.

Based on this crucial information, we consider it our moral and humanitarian duty to inform our community, the international community, and our people's friends about this dangerous situation, and to make our voices heard by all concerned parties.

In particular, following the controversial statements of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, unsafe movements have been observed in the vicinity of Shengal, and certain figures associated with Turkish interests are attempting by all means to destabilize the region and incite discord among the local components. We in Shengal, as part of Iraqi territory, emphasize that we vividly remember what happened in past years when the state neglected its responsibilities to protect the Yazidi people, and how our people were forced to rely on their special forces to protect themselves and their land. Unfortunately, today, with attempts to exploit these forces, the will of our society is being ignored, which is completely unacceptable.

Given this alarming situation, we are sending our message directly to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, urging the government to take a clear and serious stance against these attempts because any military, political, or social action targeting the lives of our people will lead to major catastrophes, which our community, still reeling from the effects of past massacres, cannot endure again.

We, in the Shengal Autonomous Administration, which has made immense sacrifices over years for the return of our people and a free life through our forces, such as the Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ), the Shengal Women's Units (YJŞ), and the Asayish forces, reaffirm our constant readiness for dialogue to ensure the resolution of problems through legal means. We are prepared to address all current issues within the legal framework.

Until now, we have always been committed to protecting our community and the lands of Shangal from the crises of war. However, in the event that any change be imposed by force, we consider the Iraqi government primarily responsible. We also call upon all parties seeking peace and all enemies of war to take a firm stance against these plans. We call upon our community, and all political, social and military forces to unite to protect the rights of the Yazidis and all the components of Shengal, and to work together to prevent any malicious party from turning Shengal once again into a battlefield and chaos."