Another Ezidi Civilian Killed in Turkish Airstrike in Shengal
Shengal Autonomous Administration reported that a young man named Kerim Hecî Şero was martyred in a Turkish airstrike on Sunday, 10 November 2024. An unmanned aerial combat vehicle (UCAV) targeted a car in the Ezidi town of Shengal (Sinjar) in Iraq. Kerim, a young Ezidi man from the Zendini tribe, was traveling to the Serdesht region when the strike hit. He was from the Tilizêr district and lived in the Sinûnê sub-district of Shengal. His body was transferred from Sinûnê Hospital to Mosul Forensic Medicine for examination.
Ongoing Turkish Attacks on Shengal
Since 2017, Turkish forces have conducted repeated airstrikes on Shengal, often targeting institutions that were established after the ISIS genocide in 2014. These include the Shengal Democratic Autonomous Council (MXDŞ) and the self-defense units YBŞ (Shengal Resistance Units), as well as other civilian infrastructure. The airstrikes have primarily affected civilians, many of whom are survivors of the 2014 genocide. For instance, Turkish airstrikes in late October 2024 killed six fighters from the YBŞ.
Turkey’s attacks have been frequent and violate international law, with civilians, including Ezidi victims, often being the primary casualties. These ongoing strikes are part of a broader Turkish strategy aimed at destabilizing and displacing the Ezidi people, particularly by targeting civilian areas and infrastructure.
The Situation in Shengal Since 2014
Shengal, the last contiguous settlement of the Ezidi people, became a target for ISIS on 3 August 2014, resulting in mass killings, abductions, and displacement.
The Turkish state has been attacking Shengal since 2017, seeking to disrupt the Ezidi people’s post-ISIS reconstruction and autonomy. These attacks, which have included routine bombings of civilian areas, reflect a broader policy by Turkey aimed at displacing the Ezidi people and undermining their efforts to rebuild their society.
