Syrian mercenaries | Preparation underway to send new batch of Ankara-backed mercenaries to Libya in days, mostly returned from Libya months ago
SOHR sources have revealed that a new batch of mercenaries of Ankara-backed factions, the majority of whom were in Libya months ago and returned during the back-and-forth transfer operations, will be sent to Libya in the upcoming days.
According to Syrian Observatory sources, some of the mercenaries who will be sent to Libya have paid their leaders 250 USD to make them go to the Libyan capital, Tripoli.
On January 27, SOHR activists have reported that Turkish forces have cancelled the return of a patch of mercenaries from Libya to Syria through Turkish lands, after the mercenaries packed their properties a few days ago.
According to reliable SOHR sources, the Turkish forces in Libya ordered to prepare 250 mercenaries of Al-Amshat, Al-Sham Legion and the 9th Division to pack their properties to return to Syria, however the flight was delayed until further notice due to an air storm in Istanbul preventing flight in the region.
On January 19, Reliable sources told SOHR that three Turkish-backed factions in Libya ordered their fighters to pack up and get ready to leave Libya to Turkey in the incoming hours. According to SOHR sources, the command of Al-Hamza, Suleiman Shah and Sultan Murad Divisions informed nearly 150 militiamen that they would leave Libya on Thursday, after the Turkish government had agreed on allowing these fighters to have a rest in Syria.
On the other hand, SOHR sources confirmed that a new batch of mercenaries left Syria to Turkey. However, the destination of this batch remained unknown. Also, SOHR sources confirmed that back-and-forth transfer operations of Syrian mercenaries from and to Libya will be resumed, after being suspended for weeks.
It is worth noting that there are nearly 7,000 Turkish-backed Syrian mercenaries in Libya, operating under the banner of various factions of the “National Army”.
On the other hand, the Syrian mercenaries recruited by the Russian security company “Wagner” have been still maintained in the Libyan territory.
We, at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), call for the evacuation of all Syrians who have been turned into mercenaries by the Turkish government and engaged in the Libyan conflict. We also demand the Turks and Russians stop using the Syrians and turning them into mercenaries serving their narrow interests.