The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that the Turkish government has sent a new batch of mercenaries of Turkish-backed Syrian factions to Libya in order to join the military operations on the side of the “Government of National Accord” against the “Libyan National Army” led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

According to SOHR, the new batch, which was transported from Afrin to Turkey then to Libya, comprises at least 120 fighters affiliated to the factions of “Suleiman Shah, Al-Sham Corps and Sultan Murad”.

“It is worth noting that the Turkish government had agreed with the fighter of this batch to be transported to Turkey then to Qatar, in order to guard government institutions there. However, they were informed, just after arriving in Turkey, that their next stop would be Libya not Qatar,” SOHR said.

According to SOHR statistics, the number of recruits who arrived in Libya rose to nearly 17,420 Syrian mercenaries, including 350 children under the age of 18, of whom 6,000 returned to Syria after completing the duration of their contracts and receiving their financial dues. Meanwhile, Turkey has been recruiting more mercenaries, bringing them to Turkish territory to undergo military training.

SOHR added that the number of jihadists who were transported from Syria to Libya reached 10,000, of whom there were 2,500 Tunisians.