Syrian mercenaries who fought in the ranks of the opposing sides of the Libyan civil war have been regrouped and transferred out of the country in anticipation of fighting for, or against Russia in Ukraine, according to a report by Radio France International (RFI).

RFI added that since January, mercenaries from the Russian paramilitary company Wagner deployed to several military bases in eastern Libya have withdrawn from their various positions to regroup in the two bases of Al-Jufra and Brak Al-Shati in the south.

Hundreds of them have been transported to Russia for the war in Ukraine and that pro-regime Syrian mercenaries hired by Wagner to fight in Libya were also sent as reinforcements to Russia.

According to the Syrians for Truth and Justice organization, a few hundred Syrian mercenaries at the end of their mission in Benghazi were sent to Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia, Syria then to Moscow in mid-March to participate alongside Russian forces.

On the other side, Syrian mercenaries who fought alongside Fayez Al-Sarraj's Government of National Accord in Libya, were flown from Tripoli to Turkey. They are also preparing to go to Ukraine, but in order to "seek revenge against the Russians".

These Syrian mercenaries are said to be recruited by Turkish security companies. They had been originally recruited from the anti-Bashar Al-Assad northern regions of Syria under Turkish influence.

According to the RFI report, it does not appear that these mercenaries are operating in Ukraine yet. On the Russian side, they are at training bases near Rostov in Russia and Belarus. From the Turkish recruited side, they train at bases near the Syrian border, the same bases used by those who were previously sent to Libya.