Russian-Turkish conflict extends to Libya | Russia continues recruiting Syrians, exploiting poor living conditions

Reliable sources have told SOHR that Russia is recruiting Syrian people, turning them into mercenaries to fight in Libya on the side of the “Libyan National Army”.

 

In regime-held areas in Al-Qamishly, one example among many, recruitment continues in Harat Al-Tayy via two men known by their initials as F.A. and A.A. These men offer financial incentives to attract men and young people to join the new Russian-backed groups, exploiting the poor living conditions.

 

According to SOHR sources, the number of recruits reached 215 people from Al-Raqqah, Homs, Latakia and Al-Hasakah. The recruits have arrived in the Russian military base of Hmeimim in Latakia, in order to be prepared for transporting to Libya.

 

On Monday, SOHR sources reported that a Russian security company recruited tens of Syrians in order to send them to Libya to fight on the side of the “Libyan National Army” led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

 

“Each recruit will receive a monthly salary of 1,000 U.S. dollars in return for fighting on the side of ‘Haftar’s forces’ against the Turkish-backed ‘Government of National Accord’ which comprises Turkish-backed Syrian mercenaries,” the sources added.

 

We, at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, renew our appeals to the international community to interfere and stop such recruitment operations, whether conducted by private Russian security companies or Turkish affiliates. Such actions turns Syrian citizens into mercenaries by sending them to fight in Libya, and further interfere in Libya’s domestic affairs.