Turkish-backed Syrian fighters in Libya have been informed to prepare themselves to return to Syria, at orders of the Turkish government, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
The Observatory reported that about 9,000 Syrian mercenaries who were recruited by the Turkish intelligence services, including 350 children under the age of 18, returned to Syria after completing the duration of their contracts and receiving their financial dues.
Meanwhile, the unity government headed by Abdulhamid Dbeibeh denied issuing any statements regarding the mercenaries on Libyan territories, stating that a fake social media page published an unfounded statement.
Dbeibeh’s spokesman, Mohamed Hammouda, told Asharq Al-Awsat there were about 50 fake Facebook pages issuing statements on behalf of the cabinet, but he did not specify the measures taken by the government to solve this issue.
Hammouda also denied, later in press statements, any official statement about the mercenaries, asserting that statements attributed to the government about the fate of foreign fighters were unofficial.
Furthermore, the Political Working Group (PWG) of the International Follow-Up Committee on Libya (IFCL), which includes Algeria, Germany, the Arab League, and UNSMIL held a meeting Thursday to review the progress attained in advancing a comprehensive political settlement of the situation in Libya.
The group stressed the need for the full, immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all foreign forces and removal of all foreign mercenaries from Libya.
It also called for the acceleration of efforts aimed at comprehensively addressing the threat posed by armed groups and militias to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
Meanwhile, the head of the Presidential Council Mohammad al-Menfi called on the government and competent authorities to follow up the mine explosion incident in Ain Zara, south of Tripoli, which led to the death of a child and the injury of three others.
The PM offered his condolences to the victim's family, announcing that he is directly following the condition of the injured and asked the Minister of Interior to reassess the presence of mines in the area.
Volcano of Rage operation accused Wagner Group mercenaries, which supports the Libyan National Army (LNA), of planting the mines.
The operation also posted pictures showing part of the training of Wagner’s members as part of a program implemented by the Turkish army within the framework of the memorandum of understanding on military and security cooperation concluded with the outgoing Government of National Accord (GNA).
