The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Turkish-backed mercenaries | Turkey recruits nearly 13,000, over 300 killed in Libyan territory so far

Syrian Observatory sources have monitored the arrival of new batch of hundreds of Turkish-backed mercenaries in Libyan territory, in order to join the military operations on the side of the “Government of National Accord” against the “Libyan National Army”.

 

Accordingly, the number of recruits who arrived in Libya has risen to 9,600 mercenaries, including a group of non-Syrian mercenaries, while nearly 3,300 others arrived in Turkey to undergo training courses.

 

Among the total number of recruits, some 180 children between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, have been recruited to fight in Libya, the majority of whom are of “Al-Sultan Murad” Division, by offering material incentives, exploiting their difficult living situation and poverty.

 

Observatory activists has also documented a spike in death toll of the Syrian mercenaries who were killed in the ongoing military operations in Libya. As more Turkish-backed mercenaries were killed in battles with Haftar’s forces on several frontlines in Libya, the total death toll of Turkish-backed Syrian proxies who were killed in military operations in Libya has risen to 304, including 17 children under the age of eighteen as well as groups’ commanders.

 

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.