Sepi Media has exposed the identities of 416 ex-ISIS members, alleging they were trained by Turkish forces in Afrin (Efrin), northern Syria, as part of a larger group of over 800 militants.
The Sulaymaniyah (Silêmanî) – based independent media outlet on Tuesday published names and photographs of the former ISIS members and claimed the fighters have received military training from the Turkish Armed Forces and Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation (MİT). The report suggests the militants are slated for deployment to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) to fight against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) forces in the Amedi region and Metina mountain range.
These revelations follow earlier reports of Turkey transferring ISIS-affiliated ‘jihadists’ to the KRI to fight for Turkey’s interests against the PKK. The exposed militants are said to have been trained in light and semi-heavy weaponry, primarily for infantry roles. Notably, Turkey has previously used similar groups as legionnaires in Libya.
The outlet’s extensive list of published identities adds credibility to widespread allegations against Turkey for recruiting ISIS affiliates. The alleged pattern of ex-ISIS recruitment and deployment in various conflict zones raises significant concern over Turkey’s military strategy and its potential impact on regional stability.
This development occurs against the backdrop of Turkey’s ramped up military operations in the KRI and reported threats to the Sulaymaniyah region. The alleged plan to deploy fighters to mountainous areas suggests a strategic move by Turkey to potentially reduce its losses in ongoing battles in Amedi and Dohuk areas.
The exposure of these identities by Sepi Media may prompt international scrutiny of Turkey’s military strategies in the region and highlight ethical implications of using former ISIS members in current conflicts, especially given the precedent set in Libya.
