Syrian Fighters, Recruited by Turkey, Defect, Flee Karabakh Battles

An archive photo of Turkish-backed Syrian fighters in northern Aleppo. (AFP)
An archive photo of Turkish-backed Syrian fighters in northern Aleppo. (AFP)
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Syrian Fighters, Recruited by Turkey, Defect, Flee Karabakh Battles

An archive photo of Turkish-backed Syrian fighters in northern Aleppo. (AFP)
An archive photo of Turkish-backed Syrian fighters in northern Aleppo. (AFP)

Fifteen pro-Turkish Syrian fighters defected last week and fled to Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)-run areas near the Turkish-controlled areas after refusing to take part in battles between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, revealed local sources in northeastern Syria.

They said seven of the fighters defected on Saturday and headed to the SDF-run Abu Rasin, in the far northern countryside of Hasakeh, following eight fighters who defected last week.

The fighters were ordered to become mercenaries and fight in all the battle fronts Turkey intervenes in.

According to observers, defections have increased among pro-Turkish Syrian fighters who refuse to participate in foreign battles in Libya and Azerbaijan.

They said that poverty had driven many Syrians to become involved in these battles in the first place.

Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but is populated and controlled by ethnic Armenians.

The conflict has brought into sharp focus the increased influence of Turkey, an ally of Azerbaijan, in a former Soviet region considered by Russia to be within its sphere of influence. Russia also has a security alliance with Armenia.

Armenia’s defense ministry said Sunday a second militant from Syria had been captured on the battlefield. Azerbaijan has previously denied the presence of foreign fighters.

Separately, pro-ISIS followers on Telegram have claimed responsibility for the assassination of a senior commander in the SDF in Markada in southern Hasakeh.

The SDF launched a security operation on Sunday to pursue ISIS sleeper cells that are involved in the assassination of SDF commanders.

Masked gunmen on a motorcycle killed the commander on Sunday in Markada.



Israeli Forces ‘Deepening’ Activity in Gaza City, Military Says 

A woman mourns over shrouded bodies of Mushtaha family members at the Al-Shifa in Gaza City, 23 July 2025. (EPA)
A woman mourns over shrouded bodies of Mushtaha family members at the Al-Shifa in Gaza City, 23 July 2025. (EPA)
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Israeli Forces ‘Deepening’ Activity in Gaza City, Military Says 

A woman mourns over shrouded bodies of Mushtaha family members at the Al-Shifa in Gaza City, 23 July 2025. (EPA)
A woman mourns over shrouded bodies of Mushtaha family members at the Al-Shifa in Gaza City, 23 July 2025. (EPA)

The Israeli military said in a statement Wednesday that forces were operating in Gaza City, as well as in northern Gaza.

It said without elaborating that in Jabaliya, an area hard-hit in multiple rounds of fighting, an air strike killed “a number of” Hamas fighters.

Troops struck roughly 120 targets throughout Gaza over the past day, including militant cells, tunnels and booby-trapped structures, among others, the military said.

Overnight strikes kill at least 21

One Israeli strike hit a house Tuesday in the northwestern side of Gaza City, killing at least 12 people, according to the Shifa Hospital, which received the casualties.

The dead included six children and two women, according to the Health Ministry's casualty list.

Another strike hit an apartment in the Tal al-Hawa area in northern Gaza, killing at least six people. Among the dead were three children and two women, including one who was pregnant. Eight others were wounded, the ministry said.

A third strike hit a tent in the Naser neighborhood in Gaza City late Tuesday and killed three children, Shifa Hospital said.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strikes. It blames Hamas for civilian casualties because the fighters operate from populated areas.