Protection Force of Sinjar

The Protection Force of Sinjar (Hêza Parastina Şingal or HPŞ), also translated as Sinjar Defense Units, is a Yazidi militia founded by Haydar (Haider) Shesho in the summer of 2014 because of the persecution of Yazidis by ISIL. It is bigger than the other main Yazidi militia, the Sinjar Resistance Units.

The HPŞ is the only indigenous, independent force in the district. Other Yazidi militias are affiliated with various Kurdish parties. "We fight only for Yazidis, not for any party", said Haydar.

Haydar Shesho was arrested on 5 April 2015 by the Kurdistan Regional Government for creating an illegitimate militia. He was released a week later.

In October 2015, the HPŞ participated in the foundation of the Sinjar Alliance as an all-Yazidi joint commando umbrella structure with rival Sinjar Resistance Units (YBŞ), its all-women offshoot, the Êzidxan Women's Units (YJÊ) and other, independent Yazidi units committed to the united Yazidi front.

Under the joint command of the newly founded Sinjar Alliance, the Protection Forces of Sinjar took part in the November 2015 Sinjar offensive.