On Sunday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) revealed that Commanders of Turkish-backed Syrian militias, mainly Sultan Murad, have stolen half of their men’s salaries in the Yarmouk camp in Libya
According to SOHR sources, Sultan Murad paid their affiliated mercenaries in Libya up to six months of delayed salaries, with everyone receiving 355 Turkish Liras.
All the while, the Liwaa Al-Majd-affiliated mercenaries were given 7,500 Turkish Liras each, in addition to Mohamed Al-Fateh’s mercenaries, who were given a total of 5,300 Turkish Liras each.
SOHR sources confirmed that the Commanders asked their men to waive their salaries for another six months, in return for allowing them to return to Syria.
In turn, over 20 mercenaries affiliated with Sultan Murad were arrested, after protesting.
On 19 August, the Observatory reported that the Turkish government failed to pay the salaries of the Syrian mercenaries in Libya, for nearly six months. “Turkey also tightens the screws on those mercenaries stationed in Libya’s military camps, by preventing them from going outside their military barracks,” it added.
According to reliable sources, SOHR claims that “fear has spread among members of the Syrian National Army, who are stationed inside the Yarmouk camp. This is against the backdrop of the military operations launched by Turkey in its ‘Euphrates Shield’ areas of northern Syria, which has been held by pro-Turkish Syrian opposition fighters since 2016.”
The Observatory recently reported that the Yarmouk camp is witnessing escalating disputes between the mercenaries. This is due to the fact that they are unable to return home, given that the exchanges have stopped.
Many of the fighters have been stationed in Libya for two years, without having returned under leave or returned to Syrian territory.
