Posted on 10/04/2020 6:18:16 AM PDT by Texas Fossil
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced, on Sunday, that the death toll from the Syrian mercenaries sent by Turkey to the battles of Azerbaijan and Armenia against the backdrop of the Nagorno Karabakh crisis has increased.
The Syrian mercenaries, along with the Azeri forces, are taking part in the fighting that raged a week ago against the regional forces and Armenia, after they were brought in by Ankara, Baku's ally in the conflict.
The Syrian Observatory said that the new death toll from mercenaries reached 72 dead. And a previous toll published by the observatory, on Saturday, had reported 64 people dead.
In a related context, the Turkish government intends to send a new batch of Syrian mercenaries to Azerbaijan, as hundreds are expected to arrive within the next few hours and days.
The observatory had said earlier that it had monitored the continuation of Turkish security companies and Turkish intelligence in the transfer and training operations of large numbers of pro-Ankara militia elements in the fighting alongside Azerbaijan.
The number of Syrian mercenaries sent to Azerbaijan reached about 1,200 militants, most of them were from the Syrian Turkmen component, and they belonged to the "Sultan Murad" and "Al-Amshat" factions.
Ankara has heavily involved the "mercenaries of the pro-Syrian factions" in the battles over the Nagorno-Karabakh hills between Azerbaijan and Armenia, after it told them that their role would be limited to protecting the oil fields and borders in Azerbaijan, according to the observatory. Related news
Although Azerbaijan, an ally of Turkey, denied the presence of Syrian mercenaries, indications have increased regarding the presence of these people and their involvement in the battles. The United States, Russia and France have all expressed their concern about the role of Turkish mercenaries in the conflict.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that there is confirmed information that Turkey sends mercenaries to support Azerbaijan in its struggle against Armenia, noting that this development heralds a dangerous escalation in the ongoing conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
The region is located in the heart of the lands of Azerbaijan and its capital is Sitban Curt, but it has been under Armenian control since the war that broke out in the early 1990s. The region is home to about 150,000 people, and Armenians currently represent about 95 percent of their number.
In 1992, the region announced its secession from Azerbaijan, without this being recognized by any country, even Armenia, but the latter does not hold back in providing it with support.
It shows that Turkey's presence in a breakaway region of Azerbaijan, that is almost 100% Armenian.
Imagine a conflict of Turkey Merc's with Armenians? I read elsewhere the Merc's were told they would only be used to defend an oilfield. Smile, Turkey is not bound by telling the truth.
They remember the Armenian Genocide by Turkey (and Ottoman Empire).
This is a Syrian Human rights Observatory reporting it. Some here on FR have told me they may be working with Brit Intelligence.
Syrian Ping List
This is a little off track from Syria, but the Turkish Merc’s who are fighting in Azerbaijan (break away Armenian district) are from Syria and their number involved is being increased. So far they are not doing well.
Fewer Islamist Jihadi’s? A good thing.
I thought the goal of a mercenary was to make as much money as possible, not by dying.
Thanks Texas Fossil.
Because Armenia and Azerbaijan sit side by side on what Russia considers its southern periphery, Russia has worked to keep the dispute between the two from flaring up. Russia sees nothing but negatives for two countries on its southern border to be in conflict. Russian efforts have been working well, until now.
Erdogan is a definite factor in the change in mood in Azerbaijan.
Armenia is squeezed between Turkey and Azerbaijan.
If Turkey were to mobilize against Armenia, across the border they share, I think Putin would step in.
Instead of supporting Turkey on that, I think the appropriate reaction of NATO should be to throw Turkey out.
I expect, shortly, to see Putin provide more direct military aid to Armenia, not by attacking anything in Azerbaijan itself, just in beefing up Armenia’s own abilities. I expect Putin to include in that a notice to both Erdogan and Azerbaijan that its support to Armenia can go much, much further unless Erdogan pulls out its support to Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan pulls back.
NATO should give the same message to Erdogan.
Totally agree.
Turkey under Erdoo has no place in NATO.
I’m no fan of Putin, but he is not dumb.
Turkey? Will remain rogue until some one or group of someones say enough and ends the threat.
There is no contract when Erdoo “hires” Jihadi Mercs.
These vermin are Muslim Extremist Terrorists.
Yes, but fire-bombing an apartment complex in Moscow could conceivably be explained as "serving the long-range goal" of discouraging Russia from getting involved, which, in turn, "somehow" helps defend the oilfield in Nagorny Karabakh.
Regards,
A professional mercenary might just be in it for the money, but everybody has their own opinion and values. Some people are more motivated by the cause, but still need to be paid.
Turkey has basically taken over the pipeline of jihadi recruits that used to go to ISIS from radical mosques and madrassas around the world. Then Erdogan uses them like his own covert foreign legion. They are mainly garrisoned in the parts of Northern Syria that Turkey occupies, but Turkey ships them abroad to fight where it suits them, telling them that it is jihad.
They sent a lot to Libya, where Turkey wants to secure a puppet government, that will grant Turkey the rights to Libya’s offshore oil and gas.
Armenia was the World’s first Christian country, and Armenians are overwhelmingly Christian. The 150,000 Aremenian Christians isolated in this disputed Province of otherwise overwhelmingly Muslim Azerbaijan, make a convenient target to keep their jihadi (mercenary) base whipped up, keep recruiting rates up.
Armenia itself borders Turkey, and there are still a lot of Armenians inside Turkey itself. Armenia is aligned with Russia, and that poses a threat to Turkey, in its confrontation with Russia. Turkey and Russia are supporting opposite sides in Syria and Libya, so this current operation is part of the chessboard in their rivalry as well.
I suspect that expansionist Erdogan would very much like to take over (annex) Armenia directly, or install a puppet (satrap) Government there - if it could somehow overcome or evade their Russian support.
Another chip on the table, in their growing string of Military confrontations.
Even if there is no chance of taking Armenia directly, this might be a wedge issue to pry away Azerbaijan (and it’s oil and gas) from Russia.
“Even if there is no chance of taking Armenia directly, this might be a wedge issue to pry away Azerbaijan (and it’s oil and gas) from Russia.”
Putin could, if pushed, do the same thing to Azerbaijan. Both it and Armenia were once part of the Soviet Union, and before that both were part of the Russian Empire. Putin sees both as within the Russian sphere.
NATO should see that Turkey is in GREAT error, and put Turkey’s NATO membership on the table unless Erdogan stops his Azerbaijan adventure. NATO surely has no interest or business in promoting the conflict and if it led to confrontations between Turkey and Russia directly, NATO nations could be treaty obligated to aid Turkey - which in my view they should not do. The better course would be before things get to that point boot Turkey of NATO.
Should have done that in 1974 when they invaded Northern Cyprus.
Somehow, firebombing an apartment in Moscow does not imply restraint on Putin’s actions. I have seen what happens to people who mock Putin. One Jihadi in particular.
I had a conversation about it and 2 weeks later the Jihadi who threatened Putin, was at room temperature, after strong heat was applied first.
And, for clarity, I’m no fan of Putin.
But he is smart and acts in his interest.
My pleasure.
chessboard Bump
It is a tough position for many NATO countries.
Turkey itself has big strategic value - location, a top 20 economy, a top ten arms industry, etc.
Turkey is not inherently the problem - Erdogan and his political party are.
NATO hesitates to throw the baby out with the bathwater, hoping to wait out Erdogan, and somehow manage him in the meantime.
The NATO Treaty does not obligate members to support another member committing aggression - only if they are attacked. It would be a high stakes game for Turkey to try to draw NATO into a Turkish conflict - that might precipitate their expulsion, right while they are in conflict.
“Turkey is not inherently the problem - Erdogan and his political party are.”
Erdogan has increasingly made that a distinction without a practical difference. Something drastic and extremely negative must happen to Turkey for that to change.
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