"In our view, this was a clear message to us at a time when our people are about to return to their areas and the Iraqi and Kurdistan governments want to return stability to Shingal. Unfortunately, there could be groups whose interests do not match with having security in our region and they appear to spare no efforts to disrupt the stability," Haider Shasho, head of the Ezidkhan Protction Force, told Rudaw on Sunday night.
Shasho did not name any groups, saying they will wait to see the results of investigations to discover the perpetrators.
The Sheikh Sharaf al-Din shrine, located on the northern side of Mount Shingal is a symbol of resistance for Yezidis. The site was defended by the minority each time it was attacked, and it never fell to the Islamic State (ISIS) following the terrorist group’s takeover of the town.
According to Iraq's top security sources, a Turkish drone strike hit a vehicle just one kilometer from the holy Yezidi shrine, killing three Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters. Shasho dismissed this claim.
"What the Iraqi government has published claiming a Turkish bombing is untrue. Only one [person] was in the car, and it burned then subsequently exploded, [so it] was not bombed,"
He said that ISIS was not behind the explosion, either.
"This vehicle has been brought to this region. We cannot say that Daesh or any other group associated with Daesh has brought the car to here. It has not been the case," Shasho said, adding "if a Daesh member approaches here, he will blow himself up, not stop and detonate a vehicle far from people," the Yezidi official added, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.
He reiterated what happened was a "message to disrupt the security of the Sharafadin, because it has been the safest place in the region."
"But our people remain vigilant. They will foil such plots and do not let such seditions prevail in Shingal. Our people will continue to return to their areas," he added.
"No one is killed or wounded," Khudeda Chuke, mayor of Snune said of the explosion.
Chuke described the act as "cowardly," also saying it was not conducted by ISIS.
The Shingal Protection Units (YBS) echoed the sentiment that "some parties" try to discourage Yezidis from returning home and lead them to believe that "there is no security in Shingal".
The head of the Ezidkhan force Shasho says the Iraqi government should carry the responsibility of the protection of Shingal.
"Because tens of unplanted and dark-windowed vehicles commute into Shingal and Sinune in front of the eyes of the police and army of Iraq who do not stop or question them at the checkpoints," he said.
"It is expected other explosions may happen in the future and result in casualties only to disrupt the security of this region," he warned.
"Therefore, if the Iraqi government does not carry its responsibility, we will seriously ponder taking matters into our hands to protect our people," Shasho vowed.
ISIS attacked the Yezidi heartland of Shingal, in Nineveh province, on August 3, 2014, killing and enslaving members of the ethnoreligious group.
Hundreds of thousands of Yezidis sought refuge on nearby Mount Shingal.
