Wednesday, August 20, 2014 9:58 AM
ISIL terrorists are seen in Syria. (File photo)
The number of ISIL Takfiri militants fighting against the Syrian government amounts to more than 50,000, says a UK-based NGO.
The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday that the terrorists managed to recruit 6,000 militants in the past month alone.
The observatory’s director, Rami Abdel Rahman, said there were at least 20,000 non-Syrians among the terrorists.
"July saw the largest recruitment since the group appeared in Syria in 2013, with more than 6,000 new fighters," said the head of the group, which opposes the Syrian government.
The observatory also said there were 1,000 foreign militants among the raw recruits mostly from Chechnya, Europe, Arab countries, and China.
Most of the militants had entered via Turkey, Abdel Rahman said, adding that other recruits joined the ISIL from foreign-backed opposition groups, including 200 from the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front that initially cooperated with ISIL.
The ISIL terrorists currently control a swathe of eastern Syria and western Iraq.
Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011.
More than 170,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to the violence fueled by Western-backed militants.
The Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and, Turkey -- are reportedly supporting the militants operating inside Syria.
- See more at: Over 50,000 ISIL terrorists fight in Syria: UK-based NGO
ISIL terrorists are seen in Syria. (File photo)
The number of ISIL Takfiri militants fighting against the Syrian government amounts to more than 50,000, says a UK-based NGO.
The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday that the terrorists managed to recruit 6,000 militants in the past month alone.
The observatory’s director, Rami Abdel Rahman, said there were at least 20,000 non-Syrians among the terrorists.
"July saw the largest recruitment since the group appeared in Syria in 2013, with more than 6,000 new fighters," said the head of the group, which opposes the Syrian government.
The observatory also said there were 1,000 foreign militants among the raw recruits mostly from Chechnya, Europe, Arab countries, and China.
Most of the militants had entered via Turkey, Abdel Rahman said, adding that other recruits joined the ISIL from foreign-backed opposition groups, including 200 from the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front that initially cooperated with ISIL.
The ISIL terrorists currently control a swathe of eastern Syria and western Iraq.
Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011.
More than 170,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to the violence fueled by Western-backed militants.
The Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and, Turkey -- are reportedly supporting the militants operating inside Syria.
- See more at: Over 50,000 ISIL terrorists fight in Syria: UK-based NGO
