The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has claimed that Turkey has sent about 13,000 foreign fighters, including hundreds of Islamic State members, to fight alongside the forces of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA).
Libyan sources say that the GNA’s forces would not stand up to the battle of Tripoli without the aid sent by Turkey.
These fighters are thought to belong to IS, Tahrir Al-Sham (formerly the Al-Nusra Front), and branches of other groups.
They were recruited by Ankara to fight against the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
Ankara has continued to supply the GNA with weapons, drones and fighters, despite a UN arms embargo on Libya.
These drones and fighters have contributed greatly to the advancement of the GNA’s forces on Libya’s western front.
Military experts refute the possibility of another victory for the GNA in Sirte, given Russia’s reported presence at the Al-Jufra airbase.
This is to confront NATO in the southern Mediterranean.
International efforts led by the United Nations to bring the warring parties to negotiations in Geneva remain ongoing.
The current death toll of the Syrian fighters are believed to have reached 390 fighters.
They have been recruited from the Al-Mu’tasim Brigade, the Sultan Murad Brigade, the Northern Falcons Brigade, Hamzat, and Suleiman Shah.
According to SOHR’s sources, the deaths occured during the clashes on the axes of Salah Al-Din neighborhood south of Tripoli, the axis of Ramla near Tripoli airport, and the axis of Al-Hadaba, in addition to battles in Misrata and other areas in Libya.
The SOHR also claims that the Syrian jihadist, Samer Al-Atrash, whose alias was Abu Yacoub Al-Athari, has been killed by an airstrike west of the Libyan city of Sirte.
Al-Atrash was killed alongside several other fighters, while attempting to advance east towards Sirte.
According to the Observatory’s report, the Syrian jihadist was expelled from the Al-Nusra Front due to corruption and ethics issues, and joined the Syrian National Army’s ranks in Afrin in January.
The Syrian Human Rights Organization stated that Al-Atrash was not a prominent leader, but was among the thousands of Syrian fighters brought to Libya.
“We are talking about 13,000 mercenaries from Syria, who are now fighting in Libya,” SOHR Director Rami Abdel-Rahman said, adding “We have stopped publishing on this matter because the international community does not listen.”
“Apparently the international community decided that Libya’s fate will be like Syria. There is an open road for IS to Libya without the international community moving a finger.”
“We’ve discussed about the IS battalion that moved from the Syrian Badia to the areas of Al-Nusra Front and then to the areas of the ‘National Army’. Forty nine members of IS known to us with their full names went to fight in Libya, what did the international community do? Nothing.” he said.
Turkey has emerged as the greatest supporter of the GNA. This support came after two MoU’s were signed between Turkey and the GNA.
Ankara is thought to be hindering international efforts to bring an end to the fighting.
This is seen as a final attempt to prevent a new phase of the war that could lead to greater Russian intervention, leading to the “Syrianization” of the Libyan conflict.
The ambiguity of the position of the US on the Libyan conflict has given Ankara freedom in rallying for a military solution, instead of supporting UN efforts to peacefully settle the conflict.