According to multiple reports in Azeri and Russian (http://haqqin.az/news/35698), the man, named as Ehtiram Islamov, traveled to Istanbul where he made contact with a group of people who were recruiting Azerbaijani nationals to fight with Islamic State group militants in Syria.

Islamov reportedly expressed an interest in joining Islamic State but told the recruiters that he had financial problems. The recruiters allegedly gave Islamov $1,500.

The reports say that a few days later, Islamov decided to try the trick again -- with a twist. This time, Islamov allegedly told the recruiters that his ten friends also wanted to join Islamic State.

When the recruiters sensed something was not quite right, Islamov disappeared, according to the reports.

The reports, which have not been independently verified, did not give further details about the fate of Islamov.

It is not known how many Azerbaijanis are fighting in Syria. Estimates in news reports have ranged from 200 to 300.

The largest group of Azerbaijani militants in Syria is likely fighting for the Islamic State group. In May, Mohammad al-Azeri, the leader of an Azerbaijani Islamic State faction in Raqqa, said in a video message that Islamic State was on the "correct path of jihad" in Syria.

There have been numerous news reports of Azerbaijanis killed in Syria. Reports in October said that a professional wrestler from Azerbaijan, Rashad Bakhshaliyev, was killed fighting for Islamic State. Bakhshaliyev left his home in the northern district of Ismaili in August, leaving behind his wife and daughter. It is not known how he was recruited to IS.

Other Azerbaijani IS militants have been reported as being in Iraq. A video published in November that showed Azerbaijani and Turkish militants said the men were in the Iraqi city of Fallujah.

     

A report on the Jihadology website, which tracks jihadi fighters including in Syria and Iraq, said that most of the Azerbaijanis fighting in Syria come from Baku, Sumqayit, and smaller towns in northern Azerbaijan such as Qusar, Xudat, Xacmaz, Zaqatala, and Qax.

 

(RFE/RL)