Yazidi Refugees Prepare to Fight ISIS
With an ultimate goal to reclaim their territory that once spoke of peace, Yazidi volunteers have come back home and are training to become fighters against the Islamic State.
The town of Sinjar was once home to the Yazidi people until the ISIS seized the community in August of last year. About 50,000 Yazidis were seen in videos trying to escape the attack of the terrorists. While many hundreds were massacred and women and young girls were sold to slavery, some were able to escape.
According to CNN, some men who were able to get away from the violence have returned to the place they once called home to redeem themselves and avenge their loved ones who were victims of the onslaught last year.
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The men, despite having little or no experience at all in the battlefield, are training day in and day out to prepare for the offensive that was only a dream when they were driven out of their town.
Kheiru Khalaf, the 66-year-old commander of the frontliners in Hardan said, "We need international support, we need heavy weaponry, especially now."
With a strong desire to get his territory back for his people, Khalaf pleaded for help from countries that could offer assistance in his and his men's cause. "We stood against ISIS with nothing but machine guns. We withstood a huge enemy and stood strong. We need your help," he said.
The training forces recalled how just behind the front lines, ISIS fighters murdered 150 women and children and dumped their corpses in a mass grave. They also told of how their post gets frequent mortar fire attacks from the enemy.
The massacre site and the memories of the horrifying attacks against their people are what drives the men to keep training until the day of redemption comes. As of today, the Yazidis are waiting for a go signal from the U.S.-led coalition to start conducting ground offensives.
Michael Ibrahim is a foreign former soldier from California who once served in Iraq with the U.S. Army. He is now helping the Yazidi forces to get prepped for the battle. He said the stories of each Yazidi survivor who has come back home to fight broke his heart.
"These people are fighting to save families and to keep their homeland from a really great evil. And it really hit home to me, it really hit the heart and I had to come out," he said.
While the training refugees are about to face well-trained jihadists, people like Ibrahim are helping in any way they can to strengthen the new army.
