28 pro-Turkey Syrian militants killed during Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes: monitor

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Twenty-eight pro-Turkey Syrian rebel fighters have died during recent clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, according to a Syria war monitor.

AFP cited Friday the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reporting that of the more than 850 Syrian rebels, sent to Azerbaijan by Turkey to support Baku, 28 have been killed since clashes began on Sunday.

Relatives of three fighters confirmed their deaths inside Nagorno-Karabakh to AFP.

Nagorno-Karabakh is an ethnically Armenian-majority province that declared independence from Azerbaijan in 1991. Periodic fighting resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands from both sides occurred until a ceasefire was reached in 1994.

Turkey has openly shown its support for the Muslim-majority Azerbaijan but denies it has provided any military support during recent clashes with Christian-majority Armenia. However, Ankara has said that it is ready to support Baku if the latter requests.

Armenia has claimed that Turkey has sent thousands of Syrian rebels to the frontlines to support Azerbaijan, but both Turkey and Azerbaijan have denied this.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke on the phone on Friday and expressed their concern over the involvement of Syrian and Libyan fighters in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, according to the Russian foreign ministry, reported Reuters.

French President Macron also criticized Turkey on Thursday over the reports of the involvement of 300 Turkey-backed Syrian “jihadist groups” in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “A red line has been crossed,” he said, demanding an explanation.

Turkey has sent Syrian rebels to Libya to fight and support the internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA). They have been reportedly paid some $2,000, in comparison to the less than $100 they receive when fighting in their own country.

SOHR reported on Friday that over 2,200 of the Syrian fighters, sent to Libya by Ankara, have returned in the last six days after their contract with Turkey ended.

28 pro-Turkey Syrian militants killed during Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes: monitor

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