An article by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a Syrian NGO, claims that the Turkish state is focusing on recruiting Turkmen mercenaries to fight against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) guerillas in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).
Turkish authorities have reportedly also sent a new batch of 150 Syrian mercenaries to the region, according to SOHR. These fighters come from the ranks of Al-Sultan Suleiman Shah, Al-Sultan Murad and al-Hamzah factions of the pro-Turkish Syrian National Army (SNA). The recruitment is organised by the Turkish National Intelligence Organisation (MIT).
Last month, Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli met with Abu Amsha (Mohammed Hussein Al-Jasim), the leader of the Sultan Suleiman Shah militia. Abu Amsha has recently been awarded Turkish citizenship. The MHP is in alliance with Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
SOHR pointed out that the Turkish state is taking advantage of the current living situation in northern Syria. “Turkish authorities exploit the difficult living conditions in northern Syria to attract young people with money, which pushes them to participate in wars that serve its agendas outside Syrian territory,” the NGO wrote.
Salaries range from $2,500 to $3,000 per month, which is higher than the salaries given to mercenaries sent by Turkey and Turkish companies to Libya, Azerbaijan and Niger. It is also substantially higher pay than SNA fighters would get within Syria.
According to SOHR, Turkey is offering the higher salaries in order to persuade people to join the perilous fight in the mountains of the KRI. SOHR pointed out that hundreds of mercenaries have already been sent to take part in violent battles, and some are being held captive by the PKK.
Earlier in August, Rami Abdulrahman, head of SOHR, explained the extent of Turkey’s use of foreign fighters in an interview with Özgür Politika. He said: “Syrian mercenaries are currently fighting on the front lines in Niger. In Libya, Syrian mercenaries are still stationed in various positions. Earlier, these mercenaries were also involved in fierce clashes in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan”.
Abdulrahman also pointed out that the use of Turkmen mercenaries is intended to stir up ethnic tensions in the region, by creating the illusion that Turkmen people are on the side of the Turkish state.
