Wall Street Journal: Hundreds of Turkey-backed fighters en route to Azerbaijan

PanARMENIAN.Net - Hundreds of fighters from Syrian militias allied with Turkey have joined the fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan's side, and hundreds more are preparing to go, The Wall Street Journal said citing two Syrians involved in the effort.

On Tuesday, October 13, Russia warned of the possible “transfer of terrorist fighters” from the Middle East to the Karabakh conflict zone.

A Syrian rebel involved in deployments said fighters had been traveling there since mid-September—before the latest round of clashes—in groups of up to 100 at a time. Another Syrian with ties to the rebel groups also estimated hundreds had gone. Dozens have also returned, alarmed by the fierce fighting, that person said, according to the magazine.

The Syrian rebel, who has been charged with preparing spreadsheets of men enlisting to join the Karabakh front, said many were lured by monthly salaries of up to $2,000—a significant sum in the war-wrecked economy of Syria.

“People no longer care who they are fighting with or against, now all they ask about is the money,” he said. “Wherever there is money they will go.”

Last month, a 38-year-old Syrian rebel signed up to fight in Azerbaijan, motivated by the promised monthly salary of $1,500. “We’re being sent to our deaths,” said the man. “But in the end we care about providing bread for our families.”

The rebel, who said he was waiting to be deployed, plans to cross from Syria into Turkey, where he said chartered flights transport the fighters to Azerbaijan.

One Syrian who has long worked with the rebel groups and who has been in direct contact with two Syrian men fighting in Azerbaijan said he has been told that casualties among the Syrian fighters are rising fast.

“They say it’s hell,” said the man, who added that as many as 200 have already asked to return. “Those who have gone there and not been killed or injured in some way are the exception. Some of the fighters already want to come back.”

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and mercenaries deployed by Ankara, launched a large-scale offensive against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27, shelling Armenian positions and civilian settlements with large caliber weapons and rocket systems. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. Foreign and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages. Although a humanitarian ceasefire was supposed to begin on October 10, Azerbaijan has renewed hostilities along the line of contact.

Donations can be made to Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, which has launched a fundraising campaign to support Karabakh amid Azerbaijan's aggression.