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Syrian mercenaries deployed by Turkey in Libya have begun to withdraw from the country, a French diplomatic source said on Thursday.
“This is one of the encouraging signs that we have noticed. Movements have been seen and observed,” the source said, adding that the matter is still under “clarification and confirmation.”
Libya’s unified government had earlier called on Thursday for an “immediate” withdrawal of all mercenaries from the country that has been suffering from the ongoing chaos for a decade, but is witnessing political developments as a result of negotiations held under the auspices of Libya. the United Nations.
“We affirm the immediate departure of all mercenaries from our country,” Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Al-Manqoush said during a press conference with her French, German and Italian counterparts in Tripoli.
For its part, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights revealed that, since Sunday, March 21, a batch of 120 fighters from the Syrian faction Sultan Murad, affiliated with Turkey, have returned to Syria from Libya.
There are still more than 6,630 Syrian mercenaries in Libya, according to sources from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Observatory added that there is great discontent among the mercenaries of the holders of Syrian nationality who are in Libya, since their return to Syria was stopped since Sunday, March 21.
On Wednesday, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, in a report delivered to the Security Council, expressed “deep concern” over “reports of the continued presence of foreign elements in and around Sirte and in central Libya. “.
The document indicates that foreign forces withdrew from the city center and west of Sirte towards Wadi Harawa, thirty miles east of Sirte, to help secure the city and reopen Al-Gardabiya airport.
However, in his report, Antonio Guterres expressed regret that “no reduction in the number of foreign forces or their activities in central Libya has been reported.”
In December, the United Nations estimated the number of foreign military and mercenaries in Libya at 20,000.
Several previous UN reports indicated that there are Russian, Chadian, Sudanese and Syrian mercenaries in Libya, as well as Turkish army units deployed under a bilateral agreement with the Government of National Accord.
“His withdrawal from Libya will contribute greatly to the restoration of the unity and sovereignty of the country and heal the deep wounds caused by many years of internal conflict, active conflict and foreign interference,” the UN envoy told the Security Council. for Libya, Jan Kubis. .
