YBŞ denies report that 2,200 fighters joined Iraqi army
The Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ) command has denied reports that 2,200 Shengal fighters joined the Iraqi army under a deal reached outside the region's stakeholders, saying the claim has no basis in fact.
RastinewsThe Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ) command issued a written statement responding to reports circulated by some media outlets that 2,200 Shengal fighters had joined the Iraqi army. YBŞ said the reports, which spread in recent hours and claimed the enlistment came out of talks held outside Shengal's relevant parties, were untrue.
"No basis in fact"
The statement said the alleged agreement has no basis in fact as far as YBŞ is concerned, stressing that neither YBŞ units nor any party authorized to speak on their behalf made any statement or agreement involving that number or content.
Call for dialogue through official channels
YBŞ reaffirmed full respect for Iraq's official institutions, saying that matters concerning Shengal's security and the future of its children must be resolved through dialogue and Iraq's official channels, with the participation of relevant parties and the local population. Any solution, the statement said, must safeguard Iraq's sovereignty as well as Shengal's security, stability and the rights of its people.
YBŞ closed the statement by reiterating its readiness to negotiate in good faith on any official initiative that strengthens security and stability in the region and upholds Iraq's sovereignty and the rights and interests of Shengal's population. The statement was signed "Fermandariya Yekîneyên Berxwedana Şengalê - YBŞ" and dated September 1, 2026.
Integration talks with Baghdad ongoing
The Iraqi government had set a roadmap calling for the disbandment, by September 30, of all armed groups outside state control considered affiliated with the PKK, listing YBŞ and the Shengal Women's Units (YJŞ) among the targeted groups. On September 1, the General Command of the Iraqi Armed Forces held a high-level security meeting to discuss Shengal's situation and reconstruction.
Around the same time, the Shengal People's Assembly said in a statement that decisions on the region's future could not be made without Shengal's representatives, calling on Baghdad to formally recognize local forces such as YBŞ, YJŞ and the Êzîdxan Asayîş. The developments came as full implementation of the 2020 Shengal Agreement, signed between Erbil and Baghdad, remained pending.