Turkish-backed mercenaries | Return of Ankara-backed fighters from Libya to Syria still suspended for nearly 45 days

The issue of the Ankara-backed Syrian mercenaries comes to the fore again, especially in light of the suspension of this issue by the Turkish government. The return of fighters from Libya to Syria has been suspended for 43 days, specifically from mid-November this year, amid reports of the return of batches of fighters in early 2021.

While no information has been reported so far on the reasons for their staying there.

On the other hand, some 2,000 Syrian mercenaries remained in Libya recruited by the Russian company Wagner and sent to fight alongside the forces of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar during the military operations.

It is worth noting that the number of recruits who arrived in Libya approximated 18,000 Syrian mercenaries, including 350 children under the age of 18, of whom 10,750 returned to Syria after completing the duration of their contracts and receiving their financial dues. While the number of jihadists who were transported from Syria to Libya reached 10,000, of whom there were 2,500 Tunisians.

It is also worth noting that the number of fatalities among the Turkish-backed Syrian factions in Libya reached 496.

On December 15, SOHR sources said that the mercenaries issue in Azerbaijan ended, after the latest batches of fighters returned to Syria, as some 825 fighters of Ankara-backed factions had been in Azerbaijan. However, the fate of nearly 240 fighters transferred to Azerbaijan remained unknown, as it was not known whether they were killed, captured, relocated or remained there.

It is worth noting that the number of mercenaries transferred to Azerbaijan by Turkish government has reached 2,580 fighters, of whom 514 were killed and others were captured. Also, the fate of 240 fighters remained unknown. Meanwhile the rest of Turkish-backed Syrian mercenaries have returned to Syria, as Azerbaijani government refused to let them to stay in Azerbaijan after their mission ended.