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Marat Gabidullin has written memoir about fighting for Wagner because Russians should know mercenaries exist. Wagner Troops in Standoffs With Russian Military Contractors in Syria", "Russian military at front-lines in northwestern Syria: photos", "Russia's Shadowy Mercenaries Offer Humanitarian Aid to Clean Image", ": "", "Supported by Regime forces | Wagner and Fatemiyoun launch military campaign against ISIS in Syrian desert The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights", "Syrian Revolution 12 years on | Nearly 614,000 persons killed since the onset of the revolution in March 2011", Background and causes of the Syrian Civil War, Syrian government reactions to the Syrian civil war, Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian civil war, Cities and towns during the Syrian civil war, Sectarianism and minorities in the Syrian civil war, Syrian Desert campaign (December 2017present), Humanitarian aid during the Syrian civil war, Human rights violations during the Syrian civil war, Civil uprising phase of the Syrian civil war, Early insurgency phase of the Syrian civil war, International reactions to the Syrian civil war, Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war, American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war, Relations between Syrian government and Kurdish groups in Syria, Al-Hasakah Governorate campaign (20122013), Rif Dimashq offensive (Nov 2012Feb 2013), Battle of Tell Hamis and Tell Brak (DecJan), East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (AprMay), September Urum al-Kubra aid convoy attack, Turkish military operation in Idlib Governorate, Syrian Liberation FrontTahrir al-Sham conflict, Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Syria Region, National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change, International demonstrations and protests, First Northern Syria Demilitarization Deal, Second Northern Syria Demilitarization Deal, Fourth Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference, International recognition of the Syrian National Council, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wagner_Group_activities_in_Syria&oldid=1151030199, Articles with Russian-language sources (ru), Articles containing Russian-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 21 April 2023, at 13:37. In Syria, now, a handful of weeks ago the Russians met their match. 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. The Syrian government's dependence on these ground forces for territorial control, a consequence of severe manpower shortages in the Syrian military[40] gave Iran significant influence over it, to the extent that Russia and Iran had to increasingly compete for control and influence over the Syria government. American Fury: The Truth About the Russian Deaths in Syria: Hundreds of Russian soldiers are alleged to have died in U.S. airstrikes at the beginning of February. WebRT @esotericneolib: This is such a good point, Wagner is truly the most formidable fighting force on the planet and has proven themselves time and again in Africa, Ukraine, and the Western governments and academics argue that Wagner is an unofficial foreign policy tool of the Kremlin, deployed where Russia wants to extend its influence or create upheaval. [32][33][34], According to the U.S. military's official statement, around 10 p.m. local time on the night of 7 February 2018, a force of 500 pro-government fighters consisting of local militiamen, Syrian Army regulars, Shia militants from Liwa Fatemiyoun and Liwa Zainebiyoun, and reportedly Russian private military contractors, launched an assault on a SDF headquarters near Khasham. Report: Leaked Audio of Russians on Humiliating Defeat by US WebThe Wagner Group is trained at Russian Defense Ministry bases, and the groups leaders have received awards in the Kremlin, but Russia downplayed its involvement in the We, in Russia, prefer not to discuss our mercenaries, he added. Reporting by DER SPIEGEL shows that events were likely very different. [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] Further strikes were carried out on the mornings of February 8 and 9 on tribal militia members that had come to retrieve dead bodies. The Americans knew exactly where we were, he said, recalling those events. [91][92] Some posts on Russian social media made claims of over 200 Russian PMCs being killed, although the veracity of this information was questioned[93] and could not be confirmed. Ukraine updates: Wagner head says heavy losses in Bakhmut [135] In April, the Wagner-linked Russian security contractor "Evro Polis" delivered 50 ventilators, 10,000 coronavirus test kits, and 2,000 items of protective clothing to Syria amid the coronavirus pandemic. WebThe Wagner Group (Russian: Syrian civil war Battle of Khasham: 7 February 2018: 1464 killed (confirmed) 80100 killed (estimated) 100200 wounded: The Ukrainian SBU claimed 80 were killed and 100 wounded, naming 64 of the dead. [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. [88], According to Germany's Der Spiegel, the ferocious American response was primarily triggered by a unit of Syrian tribal militia and Shiite fighters moving from the town of Al Tabiyeh towards Khasham, concurrently with another group of pro-government forces that had crossed the Euphrates River near the Deir ez-Zor Airport advancing towards Khasham from the village of Marrat. The Khasham debacle has not demonstrated the mercenary groups qualitative disadvantage nor their incompetence in battle. [15][16][17] The Russian Ministry of Defence's statement, released on 8 February 2018, referred to the incident at the village of Salihiyah (located south of the SDF-held town of Abu Hamam in the Abu Kamal District) and said that it was caused by reconnaissance actions of Syrian militias that had not been cleared with the Russian operations command; the statement stressed that there were no Russian service members in the "designated district of the Deir ez-Zor province of Syria". ", "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. Killing "a Couple Hundred Russians" in Syria", Russian reporter Borodin dead after mystery fall, U.S. airstrike destroys Russian-made tank used by pro-Syria forces, "U.S. drone destroys Russian-made tank in Syria", "At least two fighters of Assad forces killed due US raids on their location by Khasham town", "After brief buildup, pro-Syria government forces move away from U.S. troops", "SDF returns fire after surprise artillery attack near Deir al-Zor: Coalition", "Syrian Democratic Forces Return Fire in Self-Defense", Background and causes of the Syrian Civil War, Syrian government reactions to the Syrian civil war, Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian civil war, Cities and towns during the Syrian civil war, Sectarianism and minorities in the Syrian civil war, Syrian Desert campaign (December 2017present), Humanitarian aid during the Syrian civil war, Human rights violations during the Syrian civil war, Civil uprising phase of the Syrian civil war, Early insurgency phase of the Syrian civil war, International reactions to the Syrian civil war, Relations between Syrian government and Kurdish groups in Syria, Al-Hasakah Governorate campaign (20122013), Rif Dimashq offensive (Nov 2012Feb 2013), Battle of Tell Hamis and Tell Brak (DecJan), East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (AprMay), September Urum al-Kubra aid convoy attack, Turkish military operation in Idlib Governorate, Syrian Liberation FrontTahrir al-Sham conflict, Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Syria Region, National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change, International demonstrations and protests, First Northern Syria Demilitarization Deal, Second Northern Syria Demilitarization Deal, Fourth Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference, International recognition of the Syrian National Council, Ambassadors of Russia to the United States, Ambassadors of the United States to Russia, Consulate-General of Russia, New York City, Consulate-General of Russia, San Francisco, Permanent Mission of Russia to the United Nations, Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism. 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. A Telegram channel associated with Russian private military company (PMC) Wagner On February 7, 2018, Wagner mercenaries and Syrian soldiers carried out an assault on a US special forces outpost near the town of Khasham, hammering the American position with artillery rounds as the Russians and Syrians advanced. In what became known as the Battle of Khasham, US Special Forces embedded with 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. [118], In March, an anonymous senior commander of the Wagner Group was quoted as saying that there were five Wagner companies operating in Syria, as well as The Carpathians (Russian: , romanized:Karpaty) company attached to Wagner, composed mainly of Ukrainian citizens. [46] On 17 February,[52] a Wagner leader, Andrei Troshev, was quoted as saying 14 "volunteers" died in the battle. Compared to its influence over the Syrian government, the Russian government had significantly less influence over Iran's government, military, and proxies in Syria, which constituted a large portion of pro-Syrian government ground forces in both Deir ez-Zor and throughout Syria.[40]. [42] Further investigation by Russian media in December 2019 identified the remaining perpetrators as Vladimir B., Dzhakhongyr M. ("Pamir"), Ruslan ("Chichi") and Vladislav Apostol, who was killed in Syria in February 2018. Battle This was in contrast to CIT's earlier confirmation by name of no more than eight dead. Under no circumstances should this be allowed. [80][81], On 16 February, Viktor Alksnis said that the preliminary figure of Russian fatalities in the strike, based on information from the relatives and friends, stood at 334, mainly the personnel of the 5th storm squadron; he also said that, according to his information, personnel of Russia's Special Operations Forces were also involved in "the raid" on 7 February. [132][133] In early February, vehicles carrying Russian contractors were also blocked by US troops on the highways. Grupo Wagner In contrast, he said one of his main motivations behind writing the book was to bring mercenary companies such as Wagner out of the shadow, highlighting their potential benefits for Russias foreign policy goals. The groups growing influence has also divided Mali and its European partners after the west African nation deployed Wagner fighters in December. [77] The following day, the Russian foreign ministry's spokesperson Maria Zakharova conceded that five Russian citizens might have been killed in the U.S. attack; she emphasized that they were not members of the Russian Armed Forces. According to the US, the incidents took place deep inside territory patrolled by their military and the Kurdish-led SDF. [101][102] Three other Wagner commanders also stated the claim of 200 dead was an exaggeration and that 15 PMCs were killed at the most. ARCHIVED; Posted: 6/10/2019 4:01:43 AM EDT Battle of Khasham Date: 78 February 2018 Location: near Khasham, Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria This video goes into the Wagner Group and Russian families who lost sons in the battle (duration 00:12:21). Scores of Wagner soldiers are believed to have fought and died in Syria since the conflict began in 2011. [113] On 18 March, the rebels launched a counter-attack in an attempt to recapture Mesraba and quickly seized most of the town from government forces. However, the ISIS Hunters also said they would execute 100 captive militants for each of the Russians if they were killed by the jihadists. 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. [16] As of early August 2017, the number of Wagner employees in Syria was reported to have reached 5,000, after the arrival of an additional 2,000 PMCs, including Chechens and Ingush. The Russian armys achievements in Syria were largely because of the mercenaries sacrifices. [44], Shortly after the strikes, various Russian unofficial sources began to publicize information that a number of Russian "volunteers" (PMCs) had been killed in the strikes,[3][45] with some posts on Russian social media making claims of over 200 Russian PMCs being killed, although the veracity of this information was questioned[46] and could not be confirmed. Confronted with these accusations, Gabidullin said he never saw his comrades engaged in such acts but added that such crimes were to be expected given the groups current shadowy status. [20] One week later, the PMCs, along with regular Russian troops, supported Syrian government forces in repelling a HTS-led rebel offensive north of Hama. Broadening its reach outside of the Middle East, Wagner has shown itself to be a threat to transnational security. [74][75], Russian politician Viktor Alksnis, authorised representative of Communist Party presidential election candidate Pavel Grudinin, voiced an opinion on Radio Liberty that the U.S. strike was designed as a demonstration of the U.S.'s military superiority and dominance in the region, and that it might have serious geopolitical consequences for Russia. [71], At the end of November, Russia announced plans to withdraw some of its troops from Syria by the end of the year. Gabidullin hopes his book will help lift the veil of secrecy around his former profession. The Syrian government controlled all areas west of the river, including the great majority of Deir ez-Zor, and a salient on the river's east bank across from the city. [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. [12] A Kurdish militia commander and an ex-Russian officer also claimed Russian contractors were present and suffered casualties during the strikes. A detailed account of the battle was included in 8 years with Wagner, a book by a member of the PMC, Kiril Romanovsky, published several days prior. At the end of November, it was reported that the Russian military was negotiating for the release of the two PMCs who were reportedly being held on the border of Syria and Iraq. [24] During the first Palmyra offensive, according to one of the contractors, the PMCs were used as "cannon fodder" and most of the work was conducted by them, with the regular Syrian Army, who he described as "chickens", only finishing the job. (modern). [35][36] The contractors also accused the man, named as Muhammad Abdullah al-Ismail (or Mohammed Taha Ismail Al-Abdullah a.k.a. [21] Since September 2014, the U.S. had conducted military operations in Syria, primarily against ISIL forces as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. More than three years after it took place in February 2018, the Battle of Khasham remains one of the most dramatic and mysterious events of the Syrian civil war. The truth about the brutal four-hour battle between Syria Liwa Fatemiyoun (Afghan Shia militia)[1][2] Liwa Zainebiyoun (Shia Pakistanis)[2], Foreign intervention in behalf of Syrian Rebels. [87][88] Following the statement, the foreign ministries of Belarus and Kazakhstan were reported to be checking if there were casualties among their countries' citizens, but stated they had no information to confirm that Belarusians or Kazakhstanis had been killed or wounded. [37] After he was killed, his body was mutilated and burned. It was reported that to avoid potential security losses, Russia would fill the void with private military companies, including Wagner. No casualties were reported on either side of the engagement. The Wagner Group is trained at Russian Defense Ministry bases, and the groups leaders have received awards in the Kremlin, but Russia downplayed its involvement in the engagement thats come to be known as the Battle of Khasham. Russia claimed the clash was a result of American aggression. We have specialised skills that a normal army lacks.. [39], A Russian independent media report identified one of the perpetrators as Stanislav Yevgenyevich Dychko,[40] a confirmed operative of the Wagner Group[35][36] who previously worked for the Russian Interior Ministry. [4][5][6] It was reported that the Wagner Group was employed by the Russian Defense Ministry, even though private military companies are illegal in Russia. [15][11] Supported by T-72 and T-55 tanks, the pro-government troops first shelled the SDF base with artillery, mortars, and rockets in what U.S. military officials described as a "coordinated attack". [54][55], In the wake of the incident, in the absence of any official comments in response to allegations about Russian fatalities, details about Russian citizens' involvement and casualties in the U.S. strike began to be made public through social and mass media, provoking resentment and outrage from sections of the Russian public. [44], In March 2021, human rights lawyers from three nongovernmental organizations representing the killed person's brother filed a lawsuit in Moscow against six Wagner Group PMCs accused of the killing. [31] However, as of the beginning of July, the PMCs were still fighting to secure the al-Shaer gas fields and the areas of the phosphate mines. Battle of khasham moment : r/NonCredibleDefense - Reddit AH-64 Apache attack helicopters played a key role in the Battle of Khasham, helping to annihilate a combined force of hundreds of Syrian soldiers and mercenaries from Russias Wagner Group. US Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham. Sitting in a cafe in an upmarket Moscow suburb, the former mercenary Marat Gabidullin looked a long way from the battlefields of Syria where he fought half a decade ago. Fifteen Russian security staff killed in Syria explosion: The incident at a weapons depot follows the reported deaths of scores of Russian mercenaries in a US-led coalition attack last week, "Russians dead in 'battle' in Syria's east", "US attack on pro-gov't forces in Deir Ezzor killed more than 10 Russians (photos)", "More than 200 Russians may have been killed in Coalition strikes in Syria", "Reports of Russian Deaths Underscore Dangers of Syria's War", "The business of war: Russian mercenaries in Syria", "Russian toll in Syria battle was 300 killed and wounded: sources", " "" : 40 7 2018", SBU publishes list of 206 non-TOE employees of the Directorate of General Staff of Russian Army, members of Wagner PMC, plus personal data on eight more killed mercs, SBU releases personal details of 11 Russian Wagner PMC mercenaries who fought in Donbas separatists ranks. [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. PUTINS SECRET ARMIES WAGED WAR IN SYRIAWHERE WILL THEY FIGHT NEXT? Troops in Syria: Mattis gave Putin "plausible deniability" for a military assault that went badly awry. [37][38], On 13 February 2018, unclassified footage depicting the coalition's targeted airstrikes on a pro-government T-72 tank position and a reported Russian contractor artillery position in the Khasham area was released by the Department of Defense. More importantly, it does not suit the dead mercenaries parents and relatives, who cannot even talk openly about how their son or brother died. 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 He also pointed out that the Russian public proved completely indifferent to the losses suffered by the PMCs, believing that "these people are highly paid, and knew what they were getting into". That fact is completely ignored by the military establishment and not known to the wider public, Gabidullin complained, grumbling that mediocre Russian army generals received promotions based on Wagners successes. The battle of Khasham 2022-03-18 - On 7 February 2018, a large group of Russian-speaking Wagner fighters, working with a pro-Assad militia, launched an attack on a US-backed, Kurdish-controlled military base in Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria, where the Kurds had taken control of one of the countrys largest oil and natural gas fields. massive battle with Russian mercenaries in Around 2030 shells landed within 500 meters of the headquarters. [14] The remaining 23 pro-government personnel, including 15 Russians PMCs, were not killed in the airstrikes, but instead caught in a booby-trapped explosion at an arms depot at Tabiyet Jazira. 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. According to this report, pro-Syrian government forces spent a week prior to the event gathering in the Deir ez-Zor Airport, which is located to the west of the Euphrates[2] and south of Deir ez-Zor, the capital city of Deir ez-Zor Governorate. [84][85], On 19 February 2018, a publication by the Ukraine-based Inform Napalm alleged the battle was planned and cleared with the Russian military command by Sergey Kim, the chief of Wagner's operations department and a former Russian Marine officer. WebThe battle of Khasham was February 7, 2018. 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?