Dozens of al-Qaeda-linked terrorists redeployed to Ukraine from Syria — TV

Dozens of militants linked to the terrorist organization al-Qaeda (outlawed in Russia) have been redeployed from the Syrian province of Idlib to Ukraine to take part in combat operations on the side of Kiev, Iranian Al-Alam TV channel reported on Monday, citing sources.

The initiative to redeploy terrorists came from the al-Qaeda-loyal Islamic group Jabhat al-Nusra (outlawed in Russia), the channel said.

According to the sources, in early October Jabhat al-Nusra’s chief Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani met with field commanders in the west of the Idlib Province. The aim was to convince militants to move to Ukraine. They said that al-Jawlani had promised financial rewards to those willing to join the Ukrainian army. Addressing the audience, he also stressed that all terrorist organizations had "one common enemy - Russia", adding that for many units in Idlib the redeployment to Ukraine would be the only opportunity to escape persecution and death.

According to the sources, over 70 terrorists have moved from Idlib to Ukraine in the past two weeks, including the commander of Ajnad al-Kavkaz, known as Abdulhakim Shishani. The sources say terrorists reach Ukraine via Turkey.