Ezidis receive training to take on Islamic State

Around 2,500 Ezidis have been receiving military training to fight the Islamic State in northern Iraq, Kurdish security sources have said. The training, conducted by the Syria-based Kurdish Popular Protection Units, was carried out near Mount Sinjar, where thousands of Ezidis were hunted down by IS militants after being forced out of their homes three weeks ago. Kurdish sources told The Anadolu Agency that the trainees were instructed in the use of assault rifles, rockets and mortars. They will join Kurdish forces currently fighting around Mount Sinjar. Hundreds of Ezidis were massacred by IS militants when they attacked the area around Mount Sinjar and hundreds of women and girls were kidnapped.