The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Turkish involvement in Libya | Erdogan sends over 10,000 Syrian mercenaries to Tripoli

Syrian Observatory continues monitoring and tracking Turkey’s transfer of Syrian mercenaries  to Libya. SOHR sources have monitored the arrival of new batch of 500 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” in Libya.

Accordingly, the number of recruits who arrived in Libya has risen to 10,100 mercenaries, including a group of non-Syrian mercenaries, while nearly 3,400 others arrived in Turkey to undergo training courses.

Among the total number of recruits, some 200 children, aged between 16-18, , have been recruited to fight in Libya,  with the majority of whom are of “Al-Sultan Murad” Division. Those recruits are offered attractive material incentives, exploiting their difficult living situation and poverty.

Yesterday, Observatory activists documented the killing of seven Syrian mercenaries in the ongoing battles on several frontlines in Libya, in addition to the arrests of many others. As more Turkish-backed mercenaries were killed in military operations in Libya, the total death toll has now risen to 318, including 18 children under the age of eighteen, as well as some 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.