[STJ-SY] IntroductionParties in the Libyan conflict reached a permanent ceasefire agreement across the country on 23 October 2020.[1] The agreement contained a term on the removal of various groups of foreign forces and mercenaries from the country before 23 January 2021. However, Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) obtained information verifying that recruitment drives and mercenary deployment to Libya are still underway.
Hundreds of Syrians were transferred to Libya by armed Syrian groups and Russian security companies between 23 October 2020 and early April 2021. Furthermore, STJ discovered that the large percentage of recruits sent to Libya during the recent period were civilians from several Syrian provinces, including the countryside of Damascus, As-Suwayda, Deir ez-Zor, and Raqqa, as well as the city of Palmyra in Homs province. Notably, most of these provinces are controlled by the Syrian government.