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Africa North
Thousands of Mercenaries Still in Libya Despite International Calls for Removal
2021-02-01
[LibyaReview] The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that a week had passed since the deadline ended for foreign mercenaries to leave Libya. Yet, thousands of Syrian fighters remain in Libya.

The SOHR added that according to the Libyan-Libyan agreement reached on October 23rd, 2020, all imported muscle in Libya are supposed to leave the country in no more than three months starting from the beginning of the ceasefire. However,
a lie repeated often enough remains a lie...
thousands of mercenaries of Ottoman Turkish-backed factions are still in Libya.

Even the groups of Ottoman Turkish-backed mercenaries who recently returned to Syria were followed by a renewed influx of fighters to Libya. This development coincides with ongoing international calls demanding the departure of foreign forces from Libya.

On Wednesday, valuable SOHR sources confirmed that a state of anger was prevailing among Ottoman Turkish-backed Syrian mercenaries in Libya. A group of mercenaries was given a short deadline to return to Syria or The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...Qatar's satrapy in Asia Minor...
. However,
a lie repeated often enough remains a lie...
the return of this group was cancelled, which only further ignited new discontent among the mercenaries who had packed and were ready to return.

According to the SOHR, reliable sources said that a new group of Ottoman Turkish-backed Syrian mercenaries in Libya was expected to return to Syria or Turkey in a matter of hours. Nearly 150 mercenaries were informed by their commanders to prepare themselves for a return.
A previous Libya Review article on the subject adds:
SOHR explained that it was not known if another batch would leave from Syria to Libya in order to replace them. This comes at a time when the mercenaries’ payments are being deducted and delayed by their Ottoman Turkish-backed commanders.

It noted that the repatriated groups often consist of 100-250 mercenaries, with similarly sized groups deployed to Libya. The repatriation of those fighters from Libya is said to be based on certain health and security conditions.

Many of the mercenaries have not received their salaries for months, and some have tried to escape their training camps in Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
. A number have also tried to flee to Europe, through Italia.
Related:
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: 2021-01-24 Syrian media reports Israeli airstrikes near western city of Hama
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: 2021-01-24 Turkish shelling kills three civilians in Syria’s Tal Rifaat: local sources
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: 2021-01-24 Two Rojava municipal council women assassinated: reports
Related:
Backed Syrian mercenaries: 2020-12-16 Mercenaries issue ends in Azerbaijan, while uncertainty surrounds the fate of 240 fighters
Backed Syrian mercenaries: 2020-12-11 Syrian Army, SDF establish new points in key northern Raqqa town after Turkish forces attack
Backed Syrian mercenaries: 2020-10-20 Syrian mercenaries suffer heavy losses in battles against Armenian forces
Posted by:trailing wife

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