Basically some American operators and local Syrian allies were holding a position outside Khasham that guarded the route to some [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. By their account, PHOTOS, Hrytsak: The lie stained with blood, greed and fear for the committed crimes this is the true face of Russian special services. [126], In early September, the PMC's were preparing for an offensive to assault the rebel-held city of Idlib. During one attack, a PMC was tortured to death by ISIL. The state puts mercenaries in a situation where they can act outside the law, and a soldier is forced to establish his own moral norms. [76], On 14 February, presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov admitted the possibility that some Russian citizens who were not part of Russia's armed forces were in Syria, but dismissed reports of mass casualties as false. The Battle of Khasham, also known as the Battle of Conoco Fields, was a military engagement of the Syrian civil war fought on 7 February 2018 near the towns of Khasham and Al Tabiyeh in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria. On paper, the firm does not exist, with no company registration, tax returns or organisational chart to be found. [2] Contrary to what was widely reported at the time, Der Spiegel later reported that according to witnesses, no Russian mercenaries were part of this formation. [23] When they arrived in Syria the PMCs received T-72 tanks, BM-21 Grad MLRs and 122 mm D-30 howitzers. [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. [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. [20], In September 2014, the United States began to undertake efforts to establish a global coalition with the declared aim of countering the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. 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. However, the SDF later retook the villages, with local sources claiming coalition aircraft bombed pro-government positions in response. [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. , "Several Russians killed in US airstrikes in Syria", " ", --, " " , Russians killed in clash with U.S.-led forces in Syria, say associates, . [11] As unconfirmed accounts of casualties among Russian Wagner Group mercenaries in the strike emerged, the incident was billed by media as "the first deadly clash between citizens of Russia and the United States since the Cold War". [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. Putin's Secret Soldiers in Ukraine and Syria", "They fought for Palmyra again: Russian mercenaries killed in battle with ISIS", "After inflicting heavy losses on the regime forces, ISIS restore its stronghold in Hama and the regime desperate to retake Uqayribat", "The media reported the death of another soldier PMC Wagner in Syria". Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the private military company Wagner, has stated that the Wagnerites are running out, and [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. 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. [103], On 29 April 2018, pro-government forces launched an assault against four SDF villages on the Euphrates, initially capturing them. [89][105], As of late March, the PMCs remained in the same area and were using local pro-government troops to scout coalition positions. INDICTMENT: The Grand Jury for the District of Columbia charges: , Wagner's failed attack on US forces in Syria 'led by former Russian Marine officer', polygraph.info (3 October 2019) Russian News Accidentally Reveals Evidence of PMC Wagner in CAR, " ", "U.S. Airstrikes Kill 100 Russian and Syrian Fighters, Reports Say", "Pentagon Says U.S. Was Told No Russians Involved In Syria Attack", Department of Defense Press Briefing by Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White in the Pentagon: Briefing Room: Press Operations: Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White, Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System, "The Lion and The Eagle: The Syrian Arab Army's Destruction and Rebirth", "Struggle Between Russia, Iran For Control Over Syria's Centers Of Power", "Assad Appoints Pro-Russia General as Chief of Staff", "Syria says rare US strike an effort 'to support terrorism', 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, " . [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. [70][71] News outlets also noted that Vladimir Putin abruptly cancelled most of his previously announced engagements scheduled for 12 and 13 February, his press service citing ill health, and instead had a secret conference with his top military chiefs;[72][73] he also had a telephone conversation with U.S. president Donald Trump on 12 February, with no details revealed. [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. 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 In 2015, Gabidullin, a Russian airborne forces veteran and former bodyguard, joined Wagner, at the time a relatively unknown mercenary group. WebOn 7 February 2018, the U.S.-led coalition, established in 2014 to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), delivered massive air and artillery strikes on the Syrian [67][68] However, the two PMCs were still prisoners. Scores of Wagner soldiers are believed to have fought and died in Syria since the conflict began in 2011. [15] Some reports stated that the contracts with Damascus were established after Wagner lost the trust and financing of the Russian Defense Ministry in early 2016. [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. WebThe Pentagon has described the attack as "unprovoked" and started by forces loyal to the Syrian government that crossed over the Euphrates River, which functions as a border [69] However, on 4 December, the ISIS Hunters reported they had killed the commander of the ISIL militants that had captured and executed the two PMCs. It describes some of the mercenaries big battles, including two operations to liberate the ancient city of Palmyra. [132][133] In early February, vehicles carrying Russian contractors were also blocked by US troops on the highways. Syrian Army 1 links Land force branch of the Syrian Armed Forces. [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. [53], Russian newspaper Kommersant, citing Russian military and contractor sources, reported pro-government forces were attempting to capture the Conoco (locally called Al Tabiyeh) gas field from the SDF. 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. [52] At the end of that month, during an ISIL counter-offensive in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, two Wagner PMCs were captured by the militants. Reporting by DER SPIEGEL shows that events were likely very different. They arrived at the village of Marrot, which is northwest of both Khasham and the nearby SDF base. According to Fontanka, the equipment problems in combination with a reported reduction in the quality of its personnel led to Wagner suffering a significantly higher number of casualties in the second battle for Palmyra than the first one. [48] Additionally, a Russian military doctor, a leader of a PMC-linked paramilitary Cossack organization, and a source with ties to Wagner claimed 80100 PMCs were killed and 200 wounded. [131], In mid-January 2020, tense standoffs started with US troops blocking Russian military vehicles from using the M4 highway in northeastern Syria. 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. He first wanted to publish the memoir in 2020 but quickly withdrew his book after pressure from certain people. [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. Under no circumstances should this be allowed. [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. 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. 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. At about 10 pm, local time, on 7 February 2018, a battle began near the Syrian town of Khasham in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, between pro-Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led SDF, supported by the U.S. military. [2] At around 10 p.m. that night, these fighters began to advance southeast toward Khasham. In the vicinity of this city, the Euphrates river runs roughly from the northwest to the southeast, flowing into neighboring Iraq, and splits the city in two. [96][97] The SBU further named 64 of the PMCs. The clash on February 7, 2018, was sparked by a pro-Assad regime force, including mercenaries from Russia's Wagner Group, advancing on an outpost manned [104] Der Spiegel and the SOHR reported mostly Syrians were killed in the strikes. Established in 2014 to support pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, Wagner is allegedly funded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a powerful businessman closely linked to Vladimir Putin who has faced western sanctions. " ", "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. 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. In Syria, now, a handful of weeks ago the Russians met their match. [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. The military claimed that, according to intercepted radio traffic, the groups were partly ISIL and partly Kurds, and retreated towards the Conoco factory. [76] Between 3 and 7 February, pro-government forces seized at least 25 villages,[77] shrinking the IS pocket in that part of the country by a reported 80 percent. Established in 2014 to support pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, Wagner is allegedly funded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a powerful businessman closely [20][30], A few days before, Prigozhin had been indicted by the grand jury for the District of Columbia on charges related to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. [2], U.S. military forces once again opened fire, but this time with the intention of inflicting casualties. [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. It doesnt fit the official narrative.. The military claimed that, according to intercepted radio traffic, the groups were partly ISIL and partly Kurds, and retreated towards the Conoco factory. [100] On 19 February, one of Wagner's leaders, Andrei Troshev, was quoted as saying 14 "volunteers" died in the battle. In Ukraine, Wagner had fought a low-intensity [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. I am walking on a tightrope here, he said. This was well in advance of the enemy forces' attack. 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".