Turkish engagement in Libya | Turkey sends new batches of Syrian mercenaries, while 268 killed in Libyan territory so far

Syrian Observatory activists has confirmed that more Syrian mercenaries were killed in the ongoing military operations in Libyan territory. At least seven bodies of mercenaries, who were killed in battles in Libya, have been brought into areas under the control of Turkish forces and their proxies in the northern countryside of Aleppo, bringing the total death toll of Turkish-backed Syrian proxies  killed in military operations in Libya to 268.

 

The fatalities are of the factions “al-Mu’tasim Division, Sultan Murad, Suqur Al-Shamal Brigade, Al-Hamzat and Suleiman Shah”. According to very reliable SOHR sources, the fatalities were killed in clashes on frontlines of Salah Al-Din in the south of Tripoli, Al-Ramlah near Tripoli Airport, Al-Hadabah Project area, Misrata and other areas in Libya.

 

SOHR sources reported that Turkey exerted pressure in the recent days on the commanders of the “National Army” factions in order to force fighters under their command to join fighting in Libya, after it was familiar to watch fighters themselves hurrying to volunteer to fight in Libya in return for incentives offered by Turkey at the beginning.

 

Very reliable SOHR sources confirmed that most of the factions have lost desire to send their fighters to Libya anymore, especially since the fighters there are suffering from extreme harsh situation, while Turkey’s incentives remain unfulfilled.

 

As Turkey’s policy changing, Turkish intelligence turned to threaten to open old cases related to scandals in which the factions’ leaders involved, unless these leaders forced their fighters to leave to Libya.

 

It is worth noting that the factions which are fighting in Libya are operating under the banner of the Turkish-backed “National Army”, such as “Ahrar Al-Sharqiyyah, Jaysh-Al-Sharqiyyah, Jays Al-Islam, Al-Rahman Corps, Al-Sham Corps, al-Mu’tasim Sultan Murad Division, Division, Suqur Al-Shamal Brigade, Al-Hamzat, and Suliman Shah”.

 

According to SOHR statistics, the number of recruits who arrived in Libya up to date, rose to nearly 8,000 mercenaries, including a group of non-Syrian mercenaries, while nearly 3,100 others arrived in Turkey to undergo training courses.