Nagorno-Karabakh battles | Nearly ten Turkish-backed Syrian mercenaries killed in 24 hours, and bodies of 118 fatalities arrive in Syria so far
As the fierce battles and military operations are still underway in the contested Nagorno-Karabakh between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Syrian Observatory activists have documented the death of nine Syrian fighters in clashes and attacks in Azerbaijan in the past 24 hours, as Turkish-backed Syrian mercenaries directing the military operations on the side of Azerbaijani forces.
Yesterday, Syrian Observatory activists documented the death of 27 Syrian fighters in the past 48 hours.
On the other hand, Syrian Observatory activists have monitored a new batch of at least 26 bodies of the Syrian mercenaries killed in Nagorno-Karabakh battles arriving in Syria.
Accordingly the total death toll among the Turkish-backed factions since the Turkish government sent them to the frontlines has risen to at least 170 dead, including 118 fighters whose bodies were brought to Syria while the rest of bodies remained in Azerbaijan.
Moreover, reliable sources had informed SOHR that a new batch of mercenaries was preparing itself to leave to Azerbaijan, as Turkey continued to throw Syrian fighters into the raging conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
On Sunday, SOHR sources reported that the Turkish government transported a new batch of mercenaries from Syria to Azerbaijan. The recent batch comprised over 400 fighters of “Sultan Murad”, “Al-Hamzat Division” and other factions, who were supposed to be sent earlier to Azerbaijan. However, Turkey’s transfer of Syrian mercenaries to Nagorno-Karabakh has been suspended for awhile due to the ceasefire agreement. Accordingly, the total number of Syrian fighters sent to Azerbaijan has risen to at least 2,050.
According to SOHR source, the raging battles in Nagorno-Karabakh are so violent, with Syrian mercenaries directing the military operations on the frontlines, placing extreme pressure and stress on them. In this context, reliable sources informed SOHR that several fighters gave up, foregone their payments, and returned to Syria, fleeing the ongoing fierce clashes.
Reliable SOHR sources had confirmed that the Turkish government and its intelligence service continued recruiting Syrian mercenaries to throw them into the military operations in “Nagorno-Karabakh” region alongside Azerbaijani forces in their conflict with the Armenians. “The recruitment operations are being conducted in complete secrecy to avoid any potential reactions by the international community regarding the ‘recruitment of mercenaries’ law” said the sources.