The US Consulate General in Erbil released a message on the 12th anniversary of the genocide carried out by the ISIS terrorist organization against the Yazidi community. The statement commemorated those who lost their lives and emphasized the importance of ensuring justice for these atrocities and lasting security, welfare, and protection for vulnerable communities.
The consulate said, "The United States is committed to working with the Iraqi government, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and our international partners to protect the fundamental right of religious freedom and to build a future where all Iraqis can live in security and dignity."
After capturing Mosul on August 3, 2014, ISIS launched an attack on Sinjar. During this attack, the Yazidi community was targeted through systematic killing, abduction, forced displacement, and the enslavement of women and girls. According to official data, more than 5,000 Yazidis were killed and approximately 2,745 children were orphaned.
In November 2015, Peshmerga forces, with air support from the International Coalition, liberated Sinjar from ISIS. However, humanitarian and administrative problems have not been resolved. In Sinjar, infrastructure is damaged, public services are limited, security is divided, and various armed groups operate.
According to UN data, approximately 550,000 Yazidis live in Iraq. In the initial attack, more than 400,000 people fled to the Kurdistan Region, but only about 100,000 have returned to Sinjar. More than 270,000 people still live in displacement camps, while 100,000 have settled abroad.
The Sinjar Agreement signed between Baghdad and Erbil in 2020 envisioned coordinated administration, administrative reform, local security forces, and the removal of illegal armed groups, but it has largely not been implemented. This prevents the return of displaced families.
The quest for justice is also incomplete. In the ISIS attack, 6,417 Yazidi men, women, and children were abducted; 3,597 of them were rescued, but approximately 2,820 remain missing. So far, nearly 100 mass graves have been identified.
In recent years, more than 10 countries have officially recognized the Yazidi genocide. Survivors and advocacy groups emphasize that recognition must be accompanied by stronger support for accountability, reconstruction, and safe return.
The message from the US Consulate General highlighted that Sinjar's long-term recovery is an unfinished task requiring sustained commitment long after ISIS's territorial defeat.
