As a part of Turkey’s operation to send Syrian fighters to Libya, new batches of recruits arrive at training camps in Turkey
The Syrian Observatory continue to monitor developments of the Turkish operation of transporting fighters from Syria to Libya. In this context, SOHR sources confirmed that the number of conscripts that have been arrived in the Turkish camps to undergo training courses, exceeded 1600 mercenaries of the fighters within the Turkish-backed factions of Sultan Murad, Suleiman Shah and al-Mu’tasim Division.
They were transported from Afrin area after registering their named, at the time when the registration of more fighters widely continues, which means that the operation continues, despite the great focus on it politically and on media.
It is noteworthy that the conscription of mercenaries is a crime according to the international conventions issued by UN before about 30 years, which criminalize the conscription of mercenaries training of funding them.
SOHR reported yesterday that it obtained new information about Turkish operations of transporting fighters from Syria to Libya.
According to very reliable SOHR sources; the number of fighters who arrived in the Libyan capital Tripoli, has reached 300. Meanwhile, the number of conscripts who arrived in Turkish camps in order to receive training courses ranges between 900 to 1000.
“Turkey offers salaries range between 2000 and 2500 USD for every single fighter over a three-months contract or a six-months contract, in return for heading to Tripoli. The more the duration of contract was longer, the more the fighter got larger salary. A number of fighters who have been sent to Libya are former members in “Hazm Movement” before it disbanded years ago, then they joined Suleiman Shah, Sultan Murad and other factions located within Turkish-held areas in Syria” the sources added.
SOHR obtained audio records in which a Turkish-backed fighter was heard talking to a group of conscripts if they are ready to depart the following day from “Afrin” to “Tripoli”. “We will move at 10:00 am from Afrin, and we are not slaves of the Dollar, but the our conditions and debts we have push us to do this” he said.
Libyan sources said “if we collated images of Google Maps, we will found out that these fighters are gathering in Salah Al-Din area which is considered the southern entrance of the Libyan capital, it is suggested to be a high-class area as some palaces are watched there. According to video clips we obtained; it turned out that these members are gathering in “Takabali” camp which was affiliated previously to the Libyan Army, and came recently under control of the Turkish-backed fighters. Via Google Maps, it is revealed that a number of installations have been under construction in this camp for a month, which means that Turkey has been working on preparing it for the members of its loyal factions.”
Separately, very reliable SOHR sources said that Turkish soldiers were brought to all checkpoints and frontlines in the countryside of Tal Tamr, Ras Al-Ain and Abu Rasin, after evacuating these checkpoints of the Turkish-backed gunmen and deploying Turkish soldiers instead. The reason for such actions is not announced so far, but there are reports suggest that this action comes to prevent these members from escaping or dealing with SDF, or prevent them from launching attacks against the regime forces present there.”
SOHR has learned days ago, that the Turkish-backed factions have opened centers to register the names of people who desire to go and fight in Libya.
Sources informed SOHR that four centers have been opened in Afrin north of Aleppo, within headquarters of Turkish-backed factions.
One of these centered has been opened in the former headquarters of Asayish, under supervision of “Al-Hamzat Division”, another one in the former headquarter of the Local Administration, under “al-Jabha al-Shamiyyah” supervision. The third has been opened by “al-Mu’tasim Brigade” in Qibariyah village, and the last was in Al-Mahmoudiyah neighborhood under supervision of “Al-Shamel Brigade”.
The Syrian Observatory has monitored tens of people heading to these centers to join battles in Libya under Turkey’s protection.
Sources confirmed that the Turkish-backed factions attract youth to join war in Libya offering temptations and rewarding salaries range between 1800 and 2000 US dollars for a single fighter per month. In addition to that offering additional services to be guaranteed by the host country.
Other sources confirmed that two fighters were killed in Libya days ago, they are of those who had displaced from Damascus and joined the Turkish-backed factions.