Turkey preparing to send Syrian armed opposition fighters to Azerbaijan
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – A source close to the Turkish-backed opposition’s Syrian National Army said that Turkey is preparing dozens of its armed opposition groups’ militants in northwestern Syria with the aim of sending them to fight in Azerbaijan.
On July 14, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to support Azerbaijan in its struggle with Armenia over the breakaway region Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh.
In the middle of September, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, accused Turkey of transferring foreign fighters to Azerbaijan to support local authorities in the conflicts between the two countries.
Mnatsakyanyan considered Erdogan’s statement an implicit Turkish threat to use force in the conflict with Azerbaijan over the mountainous Karabakh region.
The source close to the Syrian National Army (SNA) told North Press that factions of the SNA are equipping dozens of militants to send to Azerbaijan.
According to the source, Turkey promised to pay $1,800 U.S dollars to each militant.
He pointed out that the SNA sent the first batch to Azerbaijan about a month ago, and they have been working for weeks to prepare the second batch.
A few days ago, the SNA office in Afrin, north of Aleppo, received names of the fighters whom the Turkish forces agreed to send to Azerbaijan.
The source pointed out that after they finish their training, these militants will be transferred to the border region of Hor Kilis, and from there to Turkey in preparation for their journey to fight in Azerbaijan alongside Turkish forces.
Abdulrahman Ahmed (a pseudonym) stated that he registered with the Amshat Turkish-backed armed opposition group through one of his friends to go to Azerbaijan, especially after he found out about the high salary.
Ahmed indicated that he was informed that his name was accepted in the Afrin office, that he must prepare to go soon to Azerbaijan, and his work there will be limited to guarding Turkish installations.
According to the source, his service in Azerbaijan will be based on six-month contracts, and the fighter will spend four months in Azerbaijan to return to Syria on 20 days’ leave.
After that, according to the source, the member returns to Azerbaijan to complete the contract term.
The source said “The member is paid $1,400 at the headquarters of its faction in Afrin, north of Aleppo, through a commissioner determined by the fighter.”