On Monday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) revealed that the total number of Turkish-backed fighters who had been transferred to Libya had risen to 15,100 since early 2020. Approximately 3,200 of these fighters have since been returned to Syria.
In its statement, the SOHR added that nearly 430 fighters were killed during battles alongside the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya. Turkey continues to transfer Syrians to fight against the Libyan National Army (LNA).
The SOHR observed that recent batches of fighters were sent to Libya in the past few days, along with a number of fighters returning to Syria.
It pointed out that the returnees have received their financial dues after helping the GNA to achieve strategic advancements in Libya.
“Among the combined number of recruits, some 300 children between 16 and 18 have been recruited to fight in Libya, the majority of whom are from the “Al-Sultan Murad” Division. They were promised material compensation by exploiting their complex living situation and poverty,” the statement said.
A number of Syrian recruits used fighting in Libya as a pretext to go to Europe.
Nearly 400 recruits are believed to have managed to illegally infiltrate Europe through Italy, the SOHR’s statement reported.