Syrian mercenaries get involved in Libyan confrontations – NGO
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – With the return of confrontations between armed factions in Libya, Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) managed to document the involvement of “mercenaries” of Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, known as Syrian National Army (SNA), in battles under Turkish command and their participation in looting.
The STJ, a non-governmental organization working on documenting human rights violations in Syria, said that the battles taking place in Libyan capital Tripoli are the fiercest in two years, killing dozens of civilians and wounding hundreds amidst fears of the renewal of armed actions in the country.
In a report, publicized on Wednesday, the STJ added that after two years and a half of their involvement in the conflict, about “3.000 Syrian mercenaries”, including children, are still present on Libyan soil.
It revealed that the Syrian “mercenaries” belong to Sultan Suleiman Shah Division, also known as al-Amshat, led by Muhammad al-Jassem, known as, Abu Amsha, Sultan Murad Division led by Fahim Issa and Hamza Division led by Saif Abu Bakr.
They carried out many violations including looting houses of civilians, imposing royalties on shops, and stealing others, the statement read.
Two military leaders of the SNA factions revealed to the STJ the details of the clashes, stressing the participation of the SNA mercenaries in the ongoing battles in Tripoli that were followed by looting attacked sites.
A leader of a military group affiliated to the Sultan Suleiman Shah Division told the STJ Turkish drone role was limited to reconnaissance and providing the military groups with information and coordinates.
Additionally, the Turkish drone operated in areas where fighters refused to surrender, another leader of a military formation affiliated to the Sultan Murad Division told the STJ.
He confirmed that the Syrian mercenaries concentrated, during and after the battles, on stealing dollars, gold and cellphones, rather than ammunition that are hard to transfer from a place to another.
Turkey, since 2020, has recruited thousands of Syrian mercenaries of the SNA factions to battle along Government of National Accord against Libyan National Army under the command of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
However, Russia recruited thousands of young men from the Syrian government-held areas with the aim to send them to Libya to battle to the side of Haftar forces.