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More than 30 terrorists from foreign countries were liquidated in Syria during combats against government forces in past few days. Eliminated terrorists fought with “Al Nusra Front.” There were 6 citizens from Azerbaijan, 4 from Turkey, 5 from Jordan, 9 from Saudi Arabia, as well as citizens of Afghanistan and Pakistan, reports “APA” Azerbaijani news agency referring to “Mujahideen websites.”

It is stated in the material that an Azerbaijani citizen nicknamed “Abu Yahya” was eliminated during the battles in Syrian city of Hama on September 13. He led an Azerbaijani-composed unit, which was included in the “Muhajir and Ansar” group. It is reported that another 4 Azerbaijanis were liquidated in the same battle.

“APA” notes that according to the information received in the beginning of August of the current year, more than 60 Azerbaijanis participated in battles against Syrian government forces as members of various groups.

“Faktxeber” Azerbaijani portal writes that “Abu Yahya,” who was recently eliminated in Syria, used to live in Sumgait (Azerbaijan). His name is Nijat, while Yahya is his son’s name.

“Abu Yahya al-Azeri” was a representative of a religious group called “Sumgait Jamaat,” writes the portal with a link to “Yeni Musavat” newspaper. He used to live in Sumgait around 3-4 years ago. Yahya is the name of his son. Before being liquidated, “Abu-Yahya” led a group of Azerbaijani terrorists included in the brigade called “troops of Muhajir and Ansar,” the head of which was commander Omar Shishani. The majority of Azerbaijani terrorists, who fought in Syria, are members of the given brigade.

The statement notes that the illegal brigade was torn into three parts because of internal conflicts; one of the groups assembled around a Chechen commander with a nickname “Saifullah,” another one gathered around an Avar commander with a nickname “Abu Banat.” They say a few days ago “Abu Yahya” was seriously injured and lost both feet in a battle around Hama. It is reported that Shishani brigade mainly fought around Aleppo. Another two brigades fought against Assad in Hama, Homs, and Idlib.

In the last period of time the media reported about a number of deaths of Azerbaijani terrorists in Syria. In early April, the Turkish sites have reported that about 30 terrorists from Azerbaijan have already been killed in Syria. According to the Azerbaijani conflict scientist Arif Yunus more than 300 Islamists from Azerbaijan are fighting in Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, according to Arif Yunus and the "Facthaber” portal, over 100 Azerbaijani terrorists are fighting in Syria. Azerbaijani terrorists had even placed an online video-record calling for "jihad."

Recall that the relationship between international terrorist groups and Azerbaijan originated in the early 1990s. That time, the Azerbaijani army, having failed in the aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), retreated with losses. Trying to save the situation, the Azerbaijani leadership, headed by Heydar Aliyev attracted to the war against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh international terrorists and members of radical groups from Afghanistan (groupings of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar), Turkey ("Grey Wolves", etc.), Chechnya (groupings Basayev and Raduyev etc.) and some other regions.

Despite the involvement in of thousands of foreign mercenaries and terrorists in the Azerbaijani army during the war, the Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh Republic failed, and the Baku authorities were forced to sign an armistice with the NKR and Armenia. However, international terrorists found ties in Azerbaijan, and used them in the future. Recruitment was conducted among Azerbaijanis, who then were sent to Afghanistan and the North Caucasus, where participated in the battles against the forces of the international coalition and Russian organizations.

In recent years, the citizens of Azerbaijan are actively involved in terrorist and extremist activities in Russia, Afghanistan and Syria. In Azerbaijan the citizens are brought to criminal liability for participating in "illegal armed groups" in Afghanistan, sentenced to minor terms of imprisonment.