I initially posted on the Yazidi genocide from the moment ISIS had survivors of their initial extermination holed up on Shingal Mountain in 2014.
My understanding is that around 250,000 Yazidis managed to flee the genocide. A typical course of events would involve the execution of men and teenage males and the rape and enslavement of surviving women and children. ISIS posted pictures of sitting toddlers at the point of execution.
During 2014, many Yazidis were saved by Kurdish YPG fighters arriving from Syria . Small groups of YPG fighters got to Shingal Mountain where thousands of Yazidis had fled and were facing starvation. They secured positions and called in US air strikes on advancing ISIS fighters. At the same time a larger group of YPG fighters attacked ISIS supply lines from the rear while the Yazidis on the mountain were led to safety. Following this some Yazidis formed their own militia which was aligned to the YPG and the PKK and they participated in the liberation of al Raqqa. Turkey wasn't impressed and later launched air strikes into Iraq on Yazidi towns held by this militia
The Yazidi religion goes all the way back to the bird gods of Ancient Mesopotamia however over the millennia it has absorbed many features and doctrines of both Christianity and Islam. Along with the Armenians, Yazidis also faced genocide during the final years of Ottoman rule.
The Yazidis are not forgotten and there are many Yazidi refugees living in regional Australia.
