Ankara is involved in a new conflict
Turkey sends Syrian mercenaries to fight in Azerbaijan ... and escalates the conflict with Armenia
The armies of the two countries exchanged shelling on the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region ... killing at least 100 people.
= Archival
The Fatimiyoun Brigade, which Iran recruited to fight in Syria.
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It seems that the Caucasus conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan will turn into an international conflict again.
Since last September 27, the armies of the two countries have exchanged bombings on the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, killing at least 100 people, including civilians.
The Armenian Ministry of Defense claimed that the Azerbaijani army is using long-range artillery, and threatened to escalate its military operations.
Turkey and Russia were quick to support their favorite side in the conflict, and Armenia accused the Turkish army of shooting down one of the Armenian fighter planes, and deploying Syrian mercenaries to fight alongside the Azerbaijanis, which Turkey refused.
A matter of concern
In fact, the claim that Turkey sent Syrians to fight in the Caucasus is worrying, but it can be believed, as Turkey relied on proxy groups in order to maintain the stability of the southern border with Syria, in addition to banishing attacks by the Syrian government forces and suppressing the ambition of the Kurds. Syrians in self-rule and independence.
Although Azerbaijan denounced the report which says that the Syrians are fighting on its side, and that Ankara and Baku confirm that Armenia brought "mercenaries and terrorists" from abroad, the media talk about Syrian mercenaries.
For example, the Guardian revealed that a number of Syrian fighters have been recruited in the northern city of Afrin, by a private Turkish security company, to work in guarding the "Aziri" borders, a claim that was met with skepticism by some observers, because Baku has a well-armed army. .
Reuters also reported that it had spoken with Syrian fighters, who were preparing to go to Azerbaijan, from Afrin.
The two men said that they would receive a salary of 1500 dollars a month, and they said that the very harsh life in Syria was what forced them to go to Azerbaijan.
It is clear that the recruitment process continues. The Syrian journalist, Hussein Akoush, said on Twitter that a Syrian died after traveling to fight in Azerbaijan.
Exploitation of men
In fact, the Middle East and Eastern Europe are not strangers to a "tried and true" strategy of exploiting men of a suitable age to participate in the fighting and send them to war, in the inflamed foreign conflict zones.
As part of its war against Ukraine, Russia enlisted the help of "patriotic" men, who live in the former Soviet republics, and hired Serbs were found fighting for Russia in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.
In addition, Iran, throughout the period of the civil war in Syria, pursued a harsh strategy, described as “fighting to the last Afghan person,” whereby Tehran offered a mixture of financial and political incentives, such as salaries, residency, nationality, to Afghan refugees and illegal workers. Who are afraid to be expelled at any time.
These Afghans were organized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in the "Fatimiyoun" battalion, and they also recruited Shiite Muslims from Pakistan as "volunteers", who were called "Zainabiyoun" before sending the two groups to fight in Syria.
Turkey, which maintains linguistic and ethnic rapprochement with Azerbaijan, pledged to provide steady support to Baku, including supplying drones, weapons and technical expertise, after holding joint military exercises last August.
Although Turkey would like to see Azerbaijan victorious in this conflict, Turkey will likely restrain itself, because an over-support of Baku could push the Russian military into a major escalation.
As Russia once did, when it sent men to eastern Ukraine, Turkey hopes that sending Syrian fighters to the Nagorno-Karabakh region will allow it to deny its involvement, although it still shows its support for Baku.
After nearly nine years of war, the Syrian fighters have become battle-hardened, which makes their presence extremely beneficial to the Azeris.
The Turkish - Russian rivalry
It should not be overlooked that the Armenian-Azeri conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh could become another opportunity, in which the Russian-Turkish rivalry would reach a state of violence.
These two countries are standing on opposite sides in the civil war raging in Syria.
Even if the relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are strong, they cannot be compared to Moscow's relationship with Yerevan.
The Russian-Armenian alliance has grown these days as a result of the common religious heritage, the common Soviet military legacy, economic integration with the Eurasian Union countries and Russia, and solidarity in the Collective Security Organization led by Russia, which is a treaty in which six countries participate, known as NATO, the Euro. - Asian.
Russia operates a military base in the city of Jimuri in northwestern Armenia.
Fortunately, Russia is in constant contact with all parties involved in this conflict, namely: Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan, which increases the chances of calm.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a statement: "We call on all parties, especially partner countries, such as Turkey, to do their utmost in order to reach a ceasefire and return to a peaceful settlement of this conflict, using diplomatic and political means." Unfortunately, as of now, the fighting is still raging, and the ceasefire will not lead to lasting peace.
The roots of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region began in 1924, when Soviet officials established autonomy for this region within Azerbaijan, and 95% of the population was ethnic Armenian.
The continuing tension led to the outbreak of the war, when the Nagorno-Karabakh Parliament decided to merge with Armenia in 1998, after it declared independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. By 1994, Russia brokered a ceasefire agreement, but after the war was reaped. The lives of nearly 30,000 people, and led to a major refugee crisis.
These days, the motives of the conflict remain unresolved, as Armenia still controls Nagorno-Karabakh, and about 20% of the neighboring Aziri borders, and has led to the existence of a conflict at a standstill, but it is heating up on several occasions.
Adam Lamon: Assistant Managing Editor for National Interest.
The possibility that the Armenian - Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno - Karabakh will become another opportunity, in which the Russian-Turkish rivalry will reach a state of violence.
Turkey relied on proxy groups in order to preserve the stability of the southern border with Syria, in addition to banishing attacks by the Syrian government forces, and suppressing the Syrian Kurds' aspiration for self-rule and independence.
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