Some Syrian jihadist fighters deployed to Libya by Turkey have moved to Europe and other regions offering greater benefits, according to a report submitted to the UN Security Council.
THE NORDIC MONITOR -- Based on confidential sources, UN investigators identified at least 13 cases of Syrian fighters transferred to Italy, apparently with the assistance of Libyan military authorities who used migrant smuggling networks in Tripoli.
Turkey’s Islamist government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has transported thousands of Syrian jihadist fighters to Libya to bolster Turkey-backed factions. The deployment has been accompanied by the significant presence of Turkish military and intelligence assets in Libya, a country plagued by civil war and instability since the Arab Spring revolutions of 2011.
Turkey provides Syrian mercenaries with monthly salaries, logistical support and the promise of Turkish citizenship for both the fighters and their families.