111 Fallen Heroes: PUK Peshmerga Defended Shingal

P.U.K 01:31 PM - 2025-08-03

Yazidis fleeing Shingal after ISIS attack.

Eleven years have passed since the genocide of the Yezidi people at the hands of ISIS terrorists. During this dark period, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) stood firm in the defence of Shingal (Sinjar), sacrificing 111 Peshmerga to prevent the area from falling into the hands of extremists.

In June 2014, ISIS launched a brutal campaign, seizing large parts of northern and western Iraq. On 3 August 2014, they carried out a genocidal assault against the Yezidi community in Shingal, the historic heartland of the Yezidis. The terrorists abducted 6,417 women and children, subjecting many to sexual slavery and forced labour. In just a few weeks, more than 5,000 people were massacred.

President Bafel Talabani: The Yazidi Genocide is One of the Darkest Chapters in Modern History

Marking the anniversary, PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani described the ISIS crimes against the Yezidis as one of the darkest chapters in recent history—atrocities that must never be forgotten. He urged the Iraqi government to provide both material and moral reparations to survivors and the families of victims.

He said: “The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the rightful demands of the Yazidi community. Chief among these is the urgent need for reparations by the Iraqi government and the rebuilding of Shingal to ensure a dignified life for its people.”

PUK Peshmerga Sacrifice: 111 Martyrs in the Defence of Sinjar

Sheikh Salih Gargari, Deputy Head of the PUK’s Nineveh headquarters, spoke to PUKMEDIA: "On 2 August 2014, the PUK Peshmerga were defending the village of Qasarich, just before Zummar. Our forces heroically defended both Zummar and Shingal, and we lost 111 martyrs in the process."

He noted that the PUK’s 111th Brigade of the 70th Forces led the operation to Mount Sinjar, establishing a secure perimeter that allowed the evacuation of nearly 300,000 Yazidis.

Ghayath Surchi, head of the PUK’s Mosul office, added: "Despite having limited forces, our Peshmerga stood their ground. On the first day of the occupation, four Peshmerga were martyred when the PUK Committee in Shingal was overrun. In total, we gave 111 martyrs defending Mount Sinjar until its eventual liberation."

PUK Parliamentarian: We Have Always Championed Yazidi Rights

In a statement to PUKMEDIA, Ronzi Ziad, a member of the PUK bloc in the Iraqi Parliament, reiterated the PUK’s long-standing commitment to the Yazidi cause: "The PUK has led efforts to recognise the Yazidi massacre as genocide, register Yazidi lands and properties in Shingal, and push for international recognition of these crimes."

She added: "Under the leadership of President Mam Jalal and now President Bafel Jalal Talabani, the PUK has been a consistent defender of Yazidi rights. Sadly, some political groups have exploited the Yazidis for political gain, preventing their safe return home."

PUK Politburo: Time for National Unity and Action

In a statement marking the anniversary, the PUK Political Bureau called for a unified national effort to support Yazidi survivors and facilitate the return of displaced persons: "To begin healing from this painful tragedy, it is imperative—now more than ever—that a unified and decisive approach be adopted by both the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Federal Government of Iraq. This must be accompanied by the active support of all Kurdish political parties to ensure the safe and dignified return of all displaced Yazidis to their homes."

"In this regard, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan reaffirms its full support for, and readiness to cooperate with, any initiative aimed at restoring stability to Shingal and securing official recognition of these atrocities as genocide at both the national and international levels," the statement added.



PUKMEDIA