YBŞ: We will defend Shengal with our lives!The Şengal Resistance Units (YBŞ) released a statement on the 11th anniversary of the 3 August 2014 massacre carried out by ISIS mercenaries against the Yazidi community.
The statement said: "With unity and solidarity, just as we defended our existence on August 3 in the past, today we will continue on our path with the same determination. We will stay true to our promise of resistance and will defend Şengal at the cost of our lives."
The YBŞ added: "These attacks were not just a massacre, but an attempt at genocide — aimed at the annihilation of our culture, the abduction of our women and children, the killing of our elderly, and the suppression of our will. While the world remained silent, these attacks occurred with the collaboration of our neighbors and represent one of the greatest betrayals. Yet, from this destruction, life found a way. YBŞ was founded on the blood of martyrs and the tears of mothers. We are not a temporary formation — we are a legitimate and lasting defense force born from the suffering of the Yazidis. Yazidis can only be protected as long as they are defended by their own will, weapons, and organization."
The statement continued: "Our goal is to defend ourselves through our own strength. We draw our power from the principles of dignity and the right to life in Şengal. Those who previously failed to protect the Yazidi people and did not fulfill their responsibilities are now demanding that YBŞ lay down its arms. But our people must understand that such demands pave the way for another massacre. It is impossible to disarm before the true perpetrators of the genocide are held accountable, and before political, security, and cultural rights are guaranteed. Our weapons are the legacy of our martyrs' struggle, the voice of those who remained silent, and the defense of this still-threatened land."
The YBŞ also highlighted the significance of Abdullah Öcalan's call at the time, saying: "Thousands were saved based on Leader Apo's call, which laid the foundation for real resistance. The thoughts and stance of Leader Abdullah Öcalan will always remain a moral and ethical reference for our path and a measure of loyalty in the hearts of our people."
The statement then recalled the heroic struggle of the Kurdistan guerrillas, the YPG, and YPJ fighters, against ISIS attacks, stating: "They fought shoulder to shoulder with us,
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