DAMASCUS, April 20 (Xinhua) -- A total of 40 pickup trucks carrying Syrian rebels reached the Turkish territories on Monday from northern Syria, state news agency SANA reported.
The vehicles moved from near the city of Ras al-Ayn in the countryside of Hasakah province toward the Turkish territories, said the report.
It also said that the Turkish forces brought in three big trucks carrying logistics and military gears to areas in northern Syria, as part of the Turkish ongoing operation to consolidate its positions in northern Syria.
Earlier in the day, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said as many as 5,300 Turkey-backed Syrian rebels have so far reached Libya to fight alongside the UN-backed Libyan government against the rival east-based army.
Another 2,100 rebels are currently receiving training in Turkish camps, as Turkey is sending the Syrian rebels to Libya, said the Observatory.
As many as 199 rebels have so far been killed in the battles in Libya, said the UK-based watchdog group.
The Turkey-backed rebels opened four centers in the northern Syrian city of Afrin to recruit fighters to be sent to Libya.
Turkey offers a monthly salary of 2,000 U.S. dollars for those who agree to go to Libya on contracts between three and six months, according to the watchdog group. Enditem
