According to a video published by the KRSC on its Facebook Page on Wednesday, May 4, two US and one UK citizens have been "rescued" after being "deceived" by Shingal Resistance Units (YBS) to fight Islamic State (ISIS) group.

One of three men, US national Vincent Mark Alexander, said in the video that before joining YBS, he asked if it was affiliated with PKK, and they told him that "there is no PKK, there is no PKK near us."

Alexander said that when he arrived in Shingal on November 26, he realized he was surrounded by PKK fighters.

YBS denies links to the PKK, which is considered a terrorist organisation by the US, EU and the UK.

KRSC is affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which is in conflict with the PKK and YBS.

The video was published as the Iraqi army and YBS fighters were engaged in three-day clashes in Shingal, which were halted on May 2.

Fighting the Peshmerga

Alexander added that he thought he joined the YBS to fight ISIS but realized he was fighting the Peshmerga forces, the Iraqi and Turkish armies.

He said, "as soon as we finally go there, got settled in, found out all this information we found out, there is no Daesh [ISIS], there is nothing that they said was true."

Alexander added that the Peshmerga forces helped them escape the YBS because "we did not sign up to be terrorists, we did not sign up to fight American allies."

"Everything was manipulation and lies", he added.

He also said that YBS told him, "If you try to leave or do not fight, we will execute you."

Alexander said that YBS and PKK are "terrorists" and asked people not to join them.

The second man, UK national Emer Edwards, said that the guy who recruited him had told him that there was a problem with ISIS in Shingal, "but this isn't true."

Edwards said that "the only problem that there is is with the Turkish, Iraqis and the Peshmerga. You only find this out after you join the YBS."

He also said that when there is fighting, the YBS put them in the front line because "if you die, it doesn't matter."

"I actually left the YBS with the help of the Peshmerga. They actually saved me and two of my other friends," he added.

Reporter's code: 50101