 The town of Simele became the last refuge for Assyrians fleeing from the looted villages . The mayor of Zakho arrived with a military force on 8 and 9 August to disarm the city . During that time thousands of refugees flocked around the police post in the town , where they were told by officials that they would be safe under the Iraqi flag . 10 August saw the arrival of Kurdish and Arab looters who , undeterred by the local police , took away the freshly cut wheat and barley . During the night of 10 – 11 August , the Arab inhabitants of Simele joined the looting . The Assyrian villagers could only watch as their Arab neighbours drove their flocks before them . 
