Under int. pressure, Erdogan pulls mercenaries out of Libya

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that Turkish-backed Syrian fighters in Libya have been informed to prepare themselves to return to Syria, at orders of the Turkish government.

Meanwhile, A batch of foreign mercenaries has been flown out of Libya, revealed sources at Tripoli’s Mitiga airport. Some 120 pro-Turkey mercenaries, who had been flown in from Syria, departed Tripoli on Sunday as security forces in the capital kicked off a plan to secure the capital.

The mercenaries were flown to Turkey ahead of their return to Syrian regions under Ankara’s control, added the sources.

Informed sources said, however, that the pullout “is part of a regional understanding aimed at ending the presence of mercenaries in Libya.”

Part of this understanding was struck during negotiations between Egypt, Turkey, Russia and the United States. The group stressed the need for the full, immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all foreign forces and removal of all foreign mercenaries from Libya.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the deported mercenaries were members of the Sultan Murad Division. 

The war monitor spoke of the “deplorable” conditions the mercenaries had to put up with in Libya, adding that they have not been receiving their monthly wages.