Two batches of Turkish-backed Syrian militants killed in battles in Libya
North-Press Agency
According to private sources from inside the city of Afrin, who indicated two batches of the Turkish backed Syrian armed groups who were previously sent to Tripoli were killed, while the offices opened by the Turkish military in Afrin, northern Aleppo are witnessing an increasing demand by the Turkish-backed armed groups to join the Libyan al-Wefaq Government of National Accord.
Frequent information was published regarding the presence of Syrian militants who were sent by Turkey into Libya, especially after publishing videos that documented their presence in the Libyan capital, Tripoli.
The sources pointed out that the Turkish military had previously opened a number of offices in Afrin to register those who want to join the fighting, including an office in Amir al-Ghubari School in the city center, and another in the outskirts of the city, pointing out that the armed groups' leaders can also register the names of their groups’ members. The sources stressed that the reason for the increased turnout is due to the temptations offered by Turkey, in addition to the uncertainty surrounding Idlib’s situation in the light of the military operation carried out by the Syrian and Russian forces.
The sources added that the militants are accepting to register their names in order to secure a salary of $2,000, in addition to the promised spoils, stressing that some of them find Libya a way to flee into Europe and seek asylum there. The sources also confirmed that two full batches of Syrian militants were killed on the Libyan territories in the battles of Tripoli.
Previous press and media reports confirmed the arrival of a large number of Syrian militants in Libya at the beginning of 2020 via unregistered flights, as the French Radio "RFI" indicated the landing of 4 aircraft carrying Turkish backed Syrian militants at the Libyan airport Of Mitiga, according to sources at the airport.
The advisor to the Speaker of the Libyan Parliament Fathi al-Marimi had previously told North-Press that the Syrian and other militants that have come to Libya via Turkey, noting that Ankara is supporting the extremist members and groups by supplying them with weaponry, equipment and militias from Syria and other countries.
On Saturday, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Turkey without naming it against sending military forces into Libya, saying: "Any foreign support for the warring parties in Libya will only deepen the ongoing conflict and further complicate efforts to reach a peaceful and comprehensive political solution.”