Accounts of Syrian mercenaries fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh on behalf of Azerbaijan continue to appear in mainstream media despite Azeri and Turkish denials. Stories on Syrians fighting in the wars were run in both the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. The reporting was heavily based on accounts by such individuals or their families. Common themes in both stories is the money that these Syrians are being paid to go to Azerbaijan–a theme that has been recurrent since the Turks first started using Syrian proxies in northern Syria–and the intensity of the fighting. The Journal cites two unnamed Syrian “rebels” as saying that hundreds had gone to Nagorno-Karabakh. Dozens have also returned, alarmed by the fierce fighting, one of them said.
One Syrian rebel, who has been charged with preparing spreadsheets of men enlisting to go to Nagorno-Karabakh, said many were lured by monthly salaries of up to $2,000—a significant sum in the war-wrecked economy of Syria, reported the Journal. “People no longer care who they are fighting with or against, now all they ask about is the money,” he said. “Wherever there is money they will go.”
