Turkey has sent between 3,500 and 3,800 Syrian fighters to Libya in the first three months of this year, according to a report by the US Department of Defense Office of Inspector General.

A report on counterterrorism operations in Africa notes that Turkey has paid and offered citizenship to thousands of mercenaries fighting alongside Tripoli-based militias against the forces of Libyan General Khalifa Hifter.

Despite widespread reports of extremist militant ties, the report says the US military has found no evidence that the mercenaries were linked to the ISIS or al-Qaeda extremist group. They are said to be very likely motivated by generous financial packages, not ideology or politics.