Is Turkey told mercenaries to prepare for leaving from Libya?
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), with orders of the Turkish government, Turkish-backed Syrian fighters in Libya have been informed for preparing to return to Syria.
The Observatory stated that about 9,000 Syrian mercenaries who were employed by the Turkish intelligence services, including 350 children under the age of 18, returned to Syria after finalizing the duration of their contracts and getting their financial fees.
In the meantime, the unity government ruled by Abdulhamid Dbeibeh denied delivering any statements about the mercenaries on Libyan territories, affirming that a fake social media page published an unfounded statement.
As clarifications, Dbeibeh’s spokesman, Mohamed Hammouda, informed Asharq Al-Awsat that there were about 50 fake Facebook pages distributing statements in the name of the cabinet, but he didn’t indicate the procedures taken by the government to resolve this matter.
Later in press statements, Hammouda also denied any official declarations about the mercenaries, declaring that statements attributed to the government about the fate of foreign fighters were unofficial.
Moreover, the Political Working Group (PWG) of the International Follow-Up Committee on Libya (IFCL) that includes Algeria, Germany, the Arab League, and UNSMIL held a gathering on Thursday to present the progress reached for a comprehensive political settlement of the situation in Libya.
The group also affirmed the necessity for the complete, immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all foreign forces and removal of all foreign mercenaries from Libya, calling for the acceleration of efforts for dealing the threat posed by armed groups and militias to defense the integrity of the electoral operation.
Otherwise, the chief of the Presidential Council Mohammad al-Menfi appealed the government and competent authorities to follow up the mine explosion incident in Ain Zara, south of Tripoli that led to the death of a child and the wound of three others.
The PM showed his condolences to the victim’s family, declaring that he is directly following the condition of the wounded and asked the Minister of Interior to reevaluate the presence of mines in the area.
Volcano of Rage operation accused a Wagner Group mercenary that supports the Libyan National Army (LNA), of planting the mines. The operation also published pictures that showing part of the training of Wagner’s members as part of a program applied by the Turkish army within the framework of the memorandum of understanding on military and security cooperation signed with the outgoing Government of National Accord (GNA).
