More than 900 Syrian fighters sent by Turkey to the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh have returned to their country after hostilities ended, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) monitoring group.
The militants are returning after Azerbaijan refused requests by Turkey to settle them in Nagorno-Karabakh, the SOHR said.
Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed a ceasefire to end clashes in the region on Nov. 9. Russia and France are among countries that have accused Turkey of sending hundreds of Syrian mercenaries to fight alongside the Azeri armed forces.
More than 2,500 Syrian militants were sent to Azerbaijan and 293 of them have died, the SOHR said.
The latest group of returnees arrived in Syria on Nov. 27, it said. The remainder were expected home in the coming days.
The fighters who have returned were deployed to regions of northern Syria controlled by pro-Turkey militant groups such as Afrin, Jarabulus and Al-Bab, the SOHR said.