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Two brothers from Azaz said they had been summoned to a camp in Afrin on September 13 and told by a commander in the Sultan Murad Division that three- or six-month contracts were available "guarding observation posts and oil and gas facilities" in Azerbaijan for 7,000-10,000 Turkish lira a month.Armenia says Azeri drone strikes hit a civilian bus (no casualties), and promises a "harsh response". Azerbaijain claims 10 Azeri civilians have been killed.
That works out to roughly $900-$1,300 a month, and is a princely sum compared to the monthly wage of 450-550 Turkish lira a month ($57-$70) that Ankara pays the militants to fight against the government of President Bashar Assad.
"Our leader told us that we won't be fighting, just assisting in guarding some areas," said one of the men, whom the newspaper named as Muhammad. "Our salaries aren't enough for living, so we see it a great opportunity to make money."
"There are no jobs available," added his brother, Mahmoud. "I used to work as a tailor in Aleppo but since we were displaced to Azaz, I've tried many times to practice my craft but my family and I can't earn enough."
It was implied that the militants would be taking the job, though they could not say what exactly it entailed, for how long, when they were expected to leave - or even the name of the Turkish security company officially hiring them.
Another militant, who also asked for his name to be changed, said he and 150 other men were summoned to Afrin on September 22, but then told their departure had been delayed. He had promised $200 from the first paycheck to a local broker to sign him up for the job.
"When we first started being offered work abroad in Libya, people were afraid to go there, but now there are definitely thousands of us who are willing to go to either Libya or Azerbaijan," he told The Guardian.
Comment: RT reports Trump is needling Biden on his reluctance, while Pelosi and the MSM push for canceling the debates altogether: