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On November 7, a Turkish UAV struck a vehicle in the town of Sinjar in the Iraq’s northern Nineveh Governorate. According to local sources, two people were killed as a result of the attack.
One of the victims was identified as Mervan Bedel, field commander of the Yezidi Sinjar Resistance Forces (YBS).
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The YBS is aimed to protect the Iraqi Yezidis from ISIS attacks. Today, its members are part of the Iraqi armed forces as the 80th Hashd Shaabi Regiment. The YBS has been closely associated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. This was the reason why at the beginning of 2021, the Iraqi military leadership demanded that the YBS fighters leave their positions in Northern Iraq. However, the YBS members refused to leave.
Said Hassan
Their close ties to the PKK are also the reason why the YBS leaders are targeted by Turkish forces.
In August 2021, a similiar strike of the Turkish Air Force eliminated another senior commander of the YBS Said Hassan, who played an important role in the fight against ISIS terrorists. Said Hassan became the head of the militia in 2014 after ISIS seized a significant part of the Iraqi territory and later was the commander of the 80th regiment. He was killed a few hours before his meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazimi.
