Islamic State Seize Town of Sinjar, Pushing Out Kurds and Sending Yazidis Fleeing (Iraq)

The Washington Post ^ | Sunday, August 3, 2014 | Loveday Morris

[kristinn]

Al-Qaeda-inspired extremists seized control of the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar on Sunday, advancing against overstretched Kurdish forces and sending thousands of residents running for their lives.

Families described scenes of panic as gunmen entered the town around 7 a.m. after Kurdish forces withdrew. The majority of residents are Yazidis, followers of a pre-Islamic faith, and the extremists accuse them of being devil worshipers.

“People were terrified,” said Ilias al-Hussani, who like tens of thousands of others had fled on foot toward the mountains as soon as gunmen entered. “They are savages. We’ve seen what they’ve done to people of their own faith. Imagine what they would do to us non-Muslims.”

The United Nations put the number of displaced from Sinjar at 200,000, warning of an unfolding “humanitarian tragedy.” Residents said they had little in the way of supplies, and many had run out of water as they walked in the scorching summer heat.

The retreat from Sinjar marked a second day of losses for forces from the semi-autonomous Kurdish region, who now share a 650-mile southern border with Islamic State fighters, after the Iraqi army retreated from the area in June.

As they attempt to beat back the militants, Kurdish officials have made desperate appeals for ammunition and weapons. Because of their rocky relations with the central government in Baghdad, the Kurds receive no military support from the capital, while their lack of sovereignty complicates arms purchases from abroad.

[skinkinthegrass]

BUMP!