[132][133] In early February, vehicles carrying Russian contractors were also blocked by US troops on the highways. Basically some American operators and local Syrian allies were holding a position outside Khasham that guarded the route to some [63][64] A besieged pocket of ISIL militants remained on an island in the city's outskirts, which soon came under attack. [120] Belarusians were also said to be among Wagner's contractors. [9] An expert on Russian security at the IIR, Mark Galeotti, said they served as "shock troops" alongside the Syrian Army.[25]. [98] A Russian journalist believed between 20 and 25 PMCs died in the strikes,[93] while similarly CIT estimated a total of between 20 and 30 had died. [104] Der Spiegel and the SOHR reported mostly Syrians were killed in the strikes. I know you're going to ask, so I'm going to be clear that I will not speculate on the composition of this force or whose control they were under. The military claimed that, according to intercepted radio traffic, the groups were partly ISIL and partly Kurds, and retreated towards the Conoco factory. [18][19], The U.S. military stated that one hundred Syrian pro-government fighters were killed in the U.S. attack, prompting Syria to accuse the United States of carrying out a "brutal massacre" of its troops and Russia to accuse the U.S. of being economically motivated in its actions, citing nearby oil fields. Instead, they were stationed at facilities and it was stated that during the past summer a company trained for three months at a base, 70 kilometers from Deir ez-Zor, for riot control. In Syria, now, a handful of weeks ago the Russians met their match. The Paris-based Michel Lafon publishing house is also planning to distribute a French version. At this point, pro-government units were hit by air-strikes. The Operation Inherent Resolve coalition delivered air and artillery strikes on Syrian Armed Forces and pro-government militias after they reportedly engaged a U.S I am walking on a tightrope here, he said. PUTINS SECRET ARMIES WAGED WAR IN SYRIAWHERE WILL THEY FIGHT NEXT? They arrived at the village of Marrot, which is northwest of both Khasham and the nearby SDF base. Gabidullin, whose hearing has suffered after years of fighting, also said he participated in the 2018 Battle of Khasham, where hundreds of Russian mercenaries were reportedly killed after US airstrikes against pro-regime forces, in what is believed to be the deadliest clash between Russia and the US since the cold war. [121], As of the end of November 2018, the PMCs were conducting very few combat missions. By their account, The Russian armys achievements in Syria were largely because of the mercenaries sacrifices. [107], On 18 February 2018, the Syrian military launched an offensive against the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta, east of Damascus,[108][109] and split the region into three separate pockets by 12 March. Furthermore, Russian private military contractors ("volunteers"), notably those associated with the Wagner Group, had been engaged in ground operations throughout that time, although their presence was never officially confirmed by the Russian government. Gripping his recently finished memoir, In the Same River Twice, the first published account of fighting for the secretive Russian mercenary outfit Wagner, Gabidullin said: I wrote this because I realised its time for our country to face the truth: mercenaries exist., At 55, hes an imposing figure, with his face and muscular arms covered in scars. [57] At the same time, a Russian parliamentary official stated that the two had almost certainly been executed, presumably for refusing to reject their Christian Orthodox religion, reject Russia, become Muslims and join the militant group. This was well in advance of the enemy forces' attack. Reporting by DER SPIEGEL shows that events were likely very different. [73], Ruslan Pukhov, the director of the Moscow-based Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies think tank, stated the usage of PMCs was one of the factors that contributed to Russia's victory in Syria. Strikes Killed Scores of Russia Fighters in Syria, Sources Say, : " ", "" . During one attack, a PMC was tortured to death by ISIL. , - , Putin cancels key appearances due to ill health for first time in years, , "Trump, Putin talk Palestinian peace efforts, North Korea's nukes", , Russia Acknowledges Possible Syria Deaths as Evidence of Mercenary Fatalities Mounts, : , , Russia seeks to regulate private military contractors, Russian MP demands government regulate private military companies, - 334 , Lavrov stresses that US intends to carve up parts of Syria: The Russian top diplomat comments on the situation in Syria, , , , , Russians injured in recent clash in Syria were not servicemen Foreign Ministry, , , Putin's 'chef' accused of trying to cover his tracks, -57 , , : , -57 - , Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets successfully tested in Syria, " ". [91][92][93] A short-term deployment of two Su-57s to Syria was officially confirmed by the Russian defence minister Sergey Shoygu on 1 March 2018. During the clashes, U.S. aircraft attacked Syrian troops, killing 45 to 100 government fighters. [29] The ISIS Hunters were one of the leading units[30] during the capture of the al-Shaer gas fields from ISIL in late April 2017. [2], As with the deconfliction line, the Syrian government itself never officially agreed to this limit but due to its dependence on Russia, the Syrian Army had nevertheless been, by and large de facto adhering to both; the Iranian government also never joined either of these two bilateral U.S.Russian agreements. While working with regular Syrian government forces, they were first to establish civilian evacuation corridors and then engage in the attack on the city. ' '", "Russia says U.S. airstrike killed 5 of its citizens", "About 220 casualties and wounded of the Russian security companies, the regime forces and their allies in Coalition's bombing and the explosion of a warehouse of the Russian protection forces east of Euphrates", "Pro-Syrian regime forces building up near US troops in Syria", " . [14] Later, it was revealed that the company would receive 25 percent of the proceeds from oil and gas production at fields its PMCs captured and secured from ISIL. [94][95] Earlier, Komsomolskaya Pravda military correspondent Viktor Baranets[ru] was cited as saying that according to his information, the Su-57s had done "excellent" work carrying out their mission in Eastern Ghouta. [84] A Kurdish militia commander and an ex-Russian officer also claimed Russian contractors suffered casualties during the fighting. The story I heard was the Ruskies would get bonus money capturing more oil fields so they just tried to roll up and ignored warnings// any pics vid or aftermath or diagrams or something cool I suspect that there will be attempts by [Prigozhin] to discredit me. [27][28], Besides fighting ISIL militants, according to RBK TV, the PMCs trained a Syrian Army unit called the ISIS Hunters, which was also fully funded and trained by Russian special forces. [95] A Russian military doctor, a leader of a PMC-linked paramilitary Cossack organization, a source with ties to Wagner and the Ukrainian SBU claimed 80100 PMCs were killed and 100200 wounded. Feb 7, 2023 #1 "A Telegram channel linked to the Wagner Group has published an insider account of the only known clash between the mercenary group and the US military the 7 February 2018 battle near Khasham in Syria, in which many Wagner fighters reportedly died. Gabidullin hopes his book will help lift the veil of secrecy around his former profession. The presence of the PMCs in Syria was first reported in late October 2015, almost a month after the start of the Russian military intervention in the country's civil war, when between three and nine PMCs were killed in a rebel mortar attack on their position in Latakia province. [66], On 17 November, the last ISIL fighters on the island had surrendered, leaving the Syrian Army in control of all territory surrounding Deir ez-Zor city. Hamdi Bouta) from Deir ez-Zor, of being a jihadist for wanting to desert. [12] According to sources in Wagner, cited by news media as well as the Department of Defense, U.S. forces were in constant contact with the official Russian liaison officer posted in Deir ez-Zor throughout the engagement, and only opened fire after they had received assurances that no regular Russian troops were in action or at risk. The memoir also describes mercenaries day-to-day lives, including occasional looting, and his commanders missteps. The memoir, based on events Gabidullin claims he witnessed, follows three years of Wagners Syrian campaign. Troops in Syria: Mattis gave Putin "plausible deniability" for a military assault that went badly awry. [43] The Novaya Gazeta newspaper sent the material from its investigation into the killing to the office of the Prosecutor General of Russia, as well as the Investigative Committee of Russia, however no criminal cases were opened as a result. [47] Yevgeny Shabayev, a known critic of the company that hired the contractors, also claimed 218 PMCs were killed and that the families were still waiting for their remains. [82][83] According to two U.S. defense officials, the U.S. military assessed that Russian PMCs also participated in the assault, with one saying some of the contractors had been killed in the air-strikes. More than three years after it took place in [90], Several days after the battle, various Russian groups started confirming a number of Wagner PMCs had been killed in the air-strikes. The primary U.S.-backed force in the northeastern part of Syria is the Syrian Democratic Forces, a group composed predominantly of Kurdish and Arab militiamen. " ", "Diplomats specify who was killed by an American strike ( , )", "Here's What We Know About The US Airstrikes That Killed Russian Fighters In Syria", "Russian lawmaker says U.S. strike in Syria an act of aggression: Inter", "U.S.-led coalition strike in Syria 'regrettable', " // .., , 8 2018 ", "Iran Says U.S. 'Even Worse' Than ISIS After Bombing Supreme Leader's Allies in Syria", Dozens of Russians Are Believed Killed in U.S.-Backed Syria Attack, U.S. [122], At the start of May 2019, it was reported Wagner snipers were being deployed along the Idlib frontline in northwest Syria in anticipation of a Syrian Army offensive. 2 min read. Furthermore, the SOHR stated they were not killed in the air-strikes, but instead in a booby-trapped explosion at an arms depot. [53][54] Initially, the Kremlin attempted to distance itself from the two,[55] while a brother of one of them accused the Russian government of rejecting them. The Americans knew exactly where we were, he said, recalling those events. Throughout the conversation, Gabidullin looked somewhat agitated, his piercing blue eyes darting around the empty cafe. From the companys inception, it has been shrouded in mystery. [12], According to two unnamed U.S. defense officials cited by CNN on 8 February, the U.S. military had assessed that Russian contractors had been involved, with one saying some of the contractors had been killed in the airstrikes. [96], On 12 April 2018, outgoing U.S. Central Intelligence Agency director Mike Pompeo, during his Senate hearing for the position of the United States Secretary of State, commented, "This administration announced a nuclear posture review that has put Russia on notice that we are going to recapitalize our deterrent force. He first wanted to publish the memoir in 2020 but quickly withdrew his book after pressure from certain people. [citation needed], On 11 May 2018, the coalition stated that SDF units responded to artillery fire from an unknown source on the outskirts of Deir ez-Zor; the SDF returned fire, leading to the destruction of one enemy artillery piece. [103] Russia officially confirmed five presumably Russian citizens had been killed in the air-strikes. This current situation does not suit many of my comrades. However, the ISIS Hunters also said they would execute 100 captive militants for each of the Russians if they were killed by the jihadists. "[47], In mid-September 2017, the PMCs helped Syrian troops[48][49] to capture the town of Uqayribat from ISIL in the central Hama province. US carries out missile strike on Iranian building in Syria It was posted on July 7 on a Russian language website used by current and former members of the shadowy Russian Wagner Group. For fun", " 5 "", 2017 ", "Russian Paramilitaries Accused of Torture and Beheading in Landmark Legal Case Against Wagner Group", "Syria: NGOs file torture case against Russian Wagner fighters | DW | 15.03.2021", " : " ", "Former Russian mercenary lifts lid on secretive Wagner Group", " " " 400 ", "Russia touts essential role in Syria's advance against IS", "VIDEO: Russian Army intervenes in northern Hama, drives back Al-Qaeda militants", "Islamic State releases video it says shows two Russians captured in Syria", "The Russian captives who may link Syria, Ukraine and the Kremlin's fight against the opposition", "Kremlin distances itself from captured 'Russian soldiers' in Isis propaganda video", "Media: FSB tells family of Russian prisoner captured by ISIS in Syria not to cause stir", "Syria's 'ISIS Hunters' Offer $1 Million for Russian Hostages", 2 Russians Who Refused to Reject Jesus on Camera 'Almost Certainly' Killed by ISIS, , "Video Glorifying Russian Mercenaries in Syria Trends on YouTube", " ", "Syria declares victory over Islamic State in Deir al-Zor", "Isis dealt twin blows with loss of Deir ez-Zor and key Iraq border post", "Syrian Army resumes offensive to expel ISIS from large Deir Ezzor island", "Fears for the lives of about 150 citizens in besieged Hawija Katea of being shelled by the regime forces which started to advance towards it through water bridges", "ISIS mass surrenders large Deir Ezzor island, 250+ terrorists captured", "After an undisclosed agreement, the regime forces imposes their control over Hwyjet Katea' and tens of ISIS members surrender, the fate of about 150 civilians in it is unknown", "Russia negotiating the release of two nationals captured by IS", "+18: Russian-Trained Syrian Unit Eliminates Scores Of ISIS In Black Operation", " "" "" ", "Private military companies: Moscow's other army in Syria", "Russia's Putin stops at Russian military base in Syria", "Moscow-based think tank director: Russia's unexpected military victory in Syria", " ", " - ", "The clashes continue in the besieged circle within 3 provinces between the regime forces and their allies against ISIS The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights", "Syrian Army liberates 80 percent of ISIL's pocket in northeast Hama map", "Islamic State fighters move to Syria's Idlib, clash with factions, sources say", "Syria says rare US strike an effort 'to support terrorism', "U.S. dismisses fears of wider war after deadly Syria clashes", "Diplomats specify who was killed by an American strike ( , )", "Here's What We Know About The US Airstrikes That Killed Russian Fighters In Syria", "US-led coalition strikes kill pro-regime forces in Syria", "U.S. Airstrikes Kill 100 Russian and Syrian Fighters, Reports Say", , Wagner's failed attack on US forces in Syria led by former Russian Marine officer, "Pro-gov't ISIS Hunters release official statement after US airstrikes in Deir Ezzor". [110][111], As of 17 March, 82 percent of Eastern Ghouta was captured by the Syrian Army. [90], Several Russian online news outlets, citing Syria's media and ex-KGB officer Igor Panarin, published unconfirmed reports that the Su-57 fighters, deployed to Syria since February 2017, had taken part in strikes against rebel targets in Eastern Ghouta, killing about ten U.S. personnel (military instructors) as well as other Western countries' instructors stationed in the rebel stronghold, despite the lack of known U.S. military presence in the region; the strikes were presented as retaliation for the U.S. attack at Khasham. [22], On several occasions, U.S. forces struck Syrian pro-government units operating in the area. [85][86], On 20 February 2018, the Russian foreign ministry released a statement which, while admitting that there had been citizens of Russia and "countries of the CIS" killed and wounded in the course of the "recent clash" in Syria, claimed that no Russian service members or their materiel had been involved in any way. [78][79], State Duma Defense Committee Chairman Vladimir Shamanov, citing reported casualties of Russian PMCs, said the Russian parliament was working on a bill that would regulate activities of private military contractors, which he said was necessary. [19] Still, the second offensive also ended in a victory for pro-government forces. In what became known as the Battle of Khasham, US Special Forces embedded with Russian state television recently screened numerous patriotic action movies produced by Prigozhin-linked firms, depicting unnamed Russian military instructors and volunteers fighting in eastern Ukraine, Central African Republic and Mozambique places where Wagner fighters have reportedly been active. As of late, many have been trying to make sense of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group mercenaries that have featured heavily in the battle for Because it is not just about me, said Gabidullin. In Ukraine, Wagner had fought a low-intensity [65] As government forces advanced, the pro-opposition SOHR reported that Russia demanded the release of the two captive PMCs during negotiations with the trapped militants. [138], On 15 March 2023, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 266 Russian PMCs were killed in Syria during the civil war.[139]. [99][100], On 2 March 2018, at least two pro-government fighters were reportedly killed by coalition air raids near Khasham. WebAccording to reporting by The New York Times, the Battle of Khasham began as a convoy consisting of 27 vehicles and 500 Russian and Syrian troops advanced towards an US intelligence officials say that the Wagner Group, known by the nickname of the retired Russian officer who leads it, is in Syria to seize oil and gas fields and We should never have been there; our leadership messed up. [33] Subsequently, the PMCs were in charge of guarding the refineries, with ISIL occasionally making attempts to retake the fields, each time being beaten back. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [11] The usage of Wagner had reportedly cost Russia 170 million dollars by August 2016. Links between Trump associates and Russian officials, Donald Trump's disclosures of classified information, Viktor BoutBrittney Griner prisoner exchange, Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines Act, Defending American Security from Kremlin Aggression Act, United States military and prostitution in South Korea. The ancient ruins of Palmyra in Syria after intense battles in 2016 in which Wagner is said to have taken part. [70] The same day, a Wagner representative notified the parents of one of the two that both had died in captivity. [62] Three or four companies of Wagner PMCs were involved in the fighting. Don't Be Fooled: Russia Attacked U.S. ", "More Russian Fighters from Private 'Wagner Group' Die in Syria", "Russia's Wagner group fighters sighted in Syria", "Revealed: Russia's 'Secret Syria Mercenaries', "How a secret Russian airlift helps Syria's Assad", "Moscow denies IS captives are Russian soldiers", "Russia Deploys a Potent Weapon in Syria: The Profit Motive", "Thousands of Russian private contractors fighting in Syria", "A Russian Blackwater? ? Mattis believed the forces were under Russian control, as the pro-government troops pulled back after U.S. forces spoke with their Russian counterparts. [5], On 22 February 2018, The Washington Post cited unnamed sources in U.S. intelligence as alleging that the communications intercepted days before and after the incident between Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was believed to finance Wagner, and senior Syrian officials, such as Mansour Fadlallah Azzam, as well as Kremlin officials, suggested that Prigozhin had "secured permission" from an unspecified Russian minister to go ahead with a "fast and strong" move in early February and was awaiting approval from the Syrian government. (modern). Commandos Unfolded in Syria", News Transcript: Department Of Defense Press Briefing by Lieutenant General Harrigian via teleconference from Al Udeid Airbase, Qatar: Press Operations: Lieutenant General Jeffrey Harrigian, commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, "Did U.S. and Russian Troops Fight Their Bloodiest Battle Since World War I in February? [98], On 10 February 2018, a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone destroyed a T-72 tank of pro-government forces in an airstrike near the Al Tabiyeh gas field. [134], As of early February, PMCs were posted at the frontline in the Al-Ghab Plain of Hama province. Although Wagner may serve as a deniable instrument of Kremlin policy, the PMC might have been inclined to take on side-jobs for its own profit. Americans responded with airstrikes in a four-hour battle, killing an estimated 200 combatants. No [51] A Russian journalist also believed between 20 and 25 PMCs died in the strikes. [7] The Russian Defense Ministry dismissed the early reports by The Wall Street Journal about the Wagner Group's operations in Syria as an "information attack". The head of Russia's mercenary Wagner Group threatened to withdraw his troops from the embattled city of Bakhmut in Ukraine amid heavy Germany has ", "U.S. Military Bombs Russian Tank in Video From Syria Attack on Assad Supporters", "In Syria, Russian bad faith turns fatal", "Relatives and friends of Wagner mercenaries we named earlier confirm to @ru_rbc they indeed had been killed in Syria", "Syria condemns US air strike as massacre", "US-led coalition strikes kill pro-regime forces in Syria", Confirmed: Dozens of Syrian troops killed by US 'defensive' airstrikes in Deir Ezzor, Pro-gov't ISIS Hunters release official statement after US airstrikes in Deir Ezzor, US attack on pro-gov't forces in Deir Ezzor killed more than 10 Russians (photos), "About 220 casualties and wounded of the Russian security companies, the regime forces and their allies in Coalition's bombing and the explosion of a warehouse of the Russian protection forces east of Euphrates The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights", Unprovoked attack by Syrian pro-regime forces prompts Coalition defensive strikes, "Unprovoked attack by Syrian pro-regime forces prompts Coalition defensive strikes", " ", "The U.S.-led coalition killed Russians in airstrikes against pro-Syrian government forces, reports say", Russian mercenary boss spoke with Kremlin before attacking US forces in Syria, intel claims, The international coalition to counter ISIL/Da'esh (the 'Islamic State'), "Russia Crosses the Euphrates: Implications", "Syria truce in limbo after US bombs troops", "U.S. strikes Syria militia threatening U.S.-backed forces - officials", "New details on US shoot down of Syrian jet", U.S. moves toward open-ended presence in Syria after Islamic State is routed, US military to maintain open-ended presence in Syria, Tillerson says: US secretary of state says forces will remain in country in push against Isis, Bashar al-Assad and Iranian influence, Tillerson: U.S. [2] According to Der Spiegel's report, no Russians were in either formation, though there was a small contingent of Russian PMCs stationed in Tabiyeh who were not participating in the fighting. [24] The Russian investigative blogger group[26] the Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) attributed the higher losses mainly to ISIL's heavy use of suicide-bombers and the militant group's unwillingness to negotiate. The Wagner group is a known Russian mercenary organization (which poses itself as a private military company) that is believed to be owned and funded by Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin (he denies any connection to the group). This time, however, he decided to not hold back and found a brave publisher in the city of Ekaterinburg. [2] Further strikes were carried out on the mornings of February 8 and 9 on tribal militia members that had come to retrieve dead bodies. [104] The coalition discussed the development with Russian counterparts via the established deconfliction line.[105]. [89], In late February 2018, CNN quoted multiple Russian sources claiming that those seeking to publicise information about the casualties in the 7 February strike were being harassed and silenced, presumably by people loyal to Yevgeny Prigozhin. Prigozhin and Moscow have denied any knowledge of Wagner; officially, private military companies remain illegal in Russia. Following the successful conclusion of the offensive, during which 32 of the contractors were reportedly killed and about 80 wounded, the PMCs were withdrawn between April and May 2016, and they surrendered all of their heavy weapons and military equipment. [66][67][68] Meanwhile, Russia's government-run news agency TASS acknowledged, with reference to a Cossack organisation, the death in a battle near Deir ez-Zor of a Russian "volunteer", sotnik Vladimir Loginov, a resident of the Kaliningrad Region. [ARCHIVED THREAD] - Battle of Khasham.