War in Ukraine: Former Syrian mercenaries in Libya sent alongside the Russians

Syrian mercenaries, sent by the Wagner company to help the Libyan National Army of Khalifa Haftar in Libya, will fight alongside the Russians in Ukraine REUTERS / Esam Omran Al-Fetori

Text by: Houda Ibrahim Follow

3 mins

Since January, mercenaries from the Russian paramilitary company Wagner deployed on several military bases in eastern Libya have withdrawn from their various positions to regroup in the two bases of al-Joufra and Barak al-Chati in the south.

Hundreds of them would have been transported to Russia for the war in Ukraine.

The pro-regime Syrian mercenaries hired by Wagner to fight in Libya are also sent as reinforcements to Russia.

Advertising

Read more

The Syrian organization for truth and justice is categorical, a few hundred Syrian mercenaries at the end of their mission in Benghazi have already been sent, in mid-March, to Russia to participate in the war in Ukraine alongside the Russians.  

Transported from Libya to Syria, it was from the Hmeimim air base entirely under Russian control that they were transported to Russia.

Their return to Syria was operated by the Al Ajniha company, belonging to Rami Makhloof, the cousin of the Syrian president, or on board a Russian Ilyushin, dedicated to the transport of equipment and troops.

According to the Syrian NGO, these mercenaries were recruited by "

 ", a very active Syrian security company: " 

 ".

Since 2019, when the Tripoli war in Libya ended, these Syrian mercenaries have been employed in the east and south of the country.

They guarded sensitive sites like oil terminals under orders from Russian officers.

Information that matches the videos posted on social networks by some mercenaries.

They testify to their commitment and give many details about their contracts.

They are paid between $1,000 and $2,000 per month and are hired for a period of seven months.

For its part, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH) affirms that thousands of other Syrians in the country and precisely in the regions under the control of the regime are registered on lists to go and fight alongside the Russians. .

Syrian mercenaries with and against the Russians

But the war in Syria seems to be spreading to Russia and Ukraine, because it's not just pro-Russian Syrians who want to fight in Ukraine.

On the contrary, the mercenaries who fought alongside the Sarraj government in Libya, and who, according to our information, are back in Turkey,

, but in order to fight the Russians.

In Syria, all the militias that have fought the regime for 11 years say they want to take revenge on the Russians by integrating the fifth regiment of the Ukrainian army.

They are recruited by Turkish security companies and are found in towns which are still free from the Syrian regime, such as the town of Daraa where dozens of men have gone to Ukraine.

►Also read: Eleven years of war in Syria: thousands of Syrians show their support for Ukraine

According to Turkish opposition sources, these Syrian mercenaries who defend Ukraine are recruited from the northern regions of Syria located in the area under Turkish influence.  

Thousands of Syrians have signed up on lists on either side where they are required to have military experience.

Explaining his gesture, a young Syrian on his way to Turkey says in a video on his Facebook: "

 ".

For the moment, it does not yet seem that these mercenaries are already at work in Ukraine.

On the Russian side, they are in training bases near Rostov in Russia and Belarus.

On the Turkish side, they are training in bases near the Syrian border, the same ones that were used by those once sent to Libya.

No estimate of their number is possible at present.

►Also read: Interview - "What is happening in Ukraine is the Syrian scenario, but accelerated"

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• Libya

• Syria

• Russia

• Ukraine

• Defense