The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that a new batch of around 450 mercenaries returned from Libya to Istanbul, after their contracts ended. They were sent earlier by Ankara to fight alongside the Government of National Accord (GNA) against the Libyan National Army (LNA).
Sources reported that the mercenaries were flown from Tripoli to Istanbul and are due to be transferred to Aleppo’s countryside in Syria. According to SOHR statistics, the number of foreign recruits gone to Libya has risen to approximately 17,420, including 350 minors under the age of 18.
Approximately 6,700 mercenaries have returned to Syria after the end of their contracts and after obtaining their financial dues. Turkey continues to set up and train more fighters in its territory. The sources reported that the number of jihadists arriving in Libya reached ten thousand, of whom 2,500 were of Tunisian nationality.
Ankara continues to escalate its involvement in the Libyan conflict by supporting the GNA, despite Turkey participating in and agreeing to the results of the Berlin Conference, where foreign states active in Libya agreed to uphold the UN arms embargo.