US airstrike on ISIS Hunters, February 7, 2018
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Sources
- Wikipedia: Battle of Khasham
- Pro-gov’t ISIS Hunters release official statement after US airstrikes in Deir Ezzor - Leith Aboufadel, AMN, February 11 2018
- Department Of Defense Press Briefing by Lieutenant General Harrigian via teleconference from Al Udeid Airbase, Qatar (+ brief video excerpt)- February 13, 2018
- Syrian Army, US-backed Forces Massing Troops In Euphrates Valley – Reports - South Front, February 14, 2018
- Press Gaggle by Secretary Mattis En Route to Washington, D.C., February 17, 2018
- Oh, on this Deir al-Zour situation, the -- I understand that the Russian government now is saying some of their not military forces, but contractors, were involved in that still unexplained attack on the SDF forces to east of the river. In other words, to east of the deconfliction line, and again, apparently, to the apparent unawareness of the Russian officers that we coordinate with on the deconfliction communication line.
- So it is what it is. I still cannot give you any more information on why they would do this. The -- but they took direction from someone. Was it local direction? Was it from external sources? Don't ask me. I don't know. But I doubt that 257 people all just decided on their individual own selves to suddenly cross the river into enemy territory and start shelling a location and maneuvering tanks against it.
- So whatever happened, we'll try to figure it out. We'll work with, obviously, anyone who can answer that question, but I cannot, at this time.
- The Truth About the Russian Deaths in Syria , by Christoph Reuter, Spiegel, March 2, 2018
- A team of DER SPIEGEL journalists spent two weeks interviewing both witnesses to, and participants in, the battle. The team also spoke to a staff member at the only hospital in Deir ez-Zor as well as an employee of the local military airport in an attempt to get a clear picture of exactly what took place during the three-day battle. The accounts largely corroborate each other and the image of events that emerges is one that contradicts what has been reported in the Russian and international media.
- My understanding based on reported interviews with wounded Wagner fighters is that they crossed well in advance (about a week prior, and not mixing up with other battle participants), and that they deployed from Khsham village, with artillery and tank units coming separately from elsewhere. While less trusted social media reports (el Murid) placed Wagners as defenders of a foothold on the East side, among the 400 Spiegel says were allowed. With this, IMO doubts remain on how many Wagners participated, and on their total losses, as a result of Feb. 7 -9 events. Local hospital body count appears to be similar to Chervonets version of events, here and below (whose source gave 23 Wagners killed initially, with more dying few days later from the wounds bringing the count to 42, and estimated number of wounded at 7 dozens. Khrustalik gave a higher number, and those two were in a dispute on social media, but still disagree).--Resup (talk) 09:07, 3 March 2018 (UTC)
- A team of DER SPIEGEL journalists spent two weeks interviewing both witnesses to, and participants in, the battle. The team also spoke to a staff member at the only hospital in Deir ez-Zor as well as an employee of the local military airport in an attempt to get a clear picture of exactly what took place during the three-day battle. The accounts largely corroborate each other and the image of events that emerges is one that contradicts what has been reported in the Russian and international media.
- Pompeo Says 'Couple Hundred' Russians Killed by U.S. Warplanes in Syria in February - The Wall Street Journal, April 12, 2018
- The episode took place on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8, when Russian mercenaries mounted an attack using tanks and artillery in an apparent attempt to take an oil-rich area in the eastern Syria province of Deir Ezzour. Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces, organized by the U.S. to fight Islamic State, came under fire and American air power was called in.
- The Russian mercenaries were part of private military group known as the Wagner Group, which is run by a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- The Kremlin has played down the episode, and the Pentagon has been reluctant to say how many Russians might have been killed and what relation the mercenaries had to the Kremlin. Instead, the Pentagon talked about a clash involving “pro-regime” forces.
- But Mr. Pompeo alluded to it during his confirmation hearing to try to make the point that the Trump administration has maintained a firm policy toward Moscow. “In Syria, a handful of weeks ago, the Russians met their match,” he said.
- How a 4-Hour Battle Between Russian Mercenaries and U.S. Commandos Unfolded in Syria - Thomas Gibbons-Neff, The New York Times, May 25, 2018
- About 40 US soldiers held off hundreds of Russian mercenaries in a brutal firefight in Syria - John Haltiwanger, Business Insider, May. 25, 2018
Video
- Video showing aftermath of alleged US airstrike against Syrian Army in Deir Ezzor - Andrew Illingworth, AMN, March 3, 2018
- U.S. Troops Who Came Under Fire From Russian Mercenaries Prepare For More Attacks - NBC Nightly News, March 15, 2018
- Pompeo Confirms Hundreds Of Russians Killed In U.S. Attack In Syria - TIME, April 12, 2018
Russian losses
- See also discussion; PMC Wagner. Coalition estimate of total pro-Assad forces losses is 100 killed. First claim of Russian losses is made by Strelkov.
- In Syria, Russian bad faith turns fatal - David Ignatus, Washington Post, February 9, 2018
- Источник: США нанесли удар по российской ЧВК «Вагнера» (Source: US attacked the Russian PMC "Wagner") - Vzgliad, February 9, 2018
- Появились данные об огромных потерях «вагнеровцев» под ударом США в Сирии (Many dead: new information about the massive attack of the United States and the Kurds on the positions of Russian PMCs) - Vzgliad, February 10, 2018
- Много погибших: опубликована информация о массированном ударе США и курдов по позициям российских ЧВК - Rusnext, February 10, 2018
- US airstrike in Syria kills former defender of Donbass - RIA via Fort Russ, February 12, 2018
- CIT назвала имена бойцов «ЧВК Вагнера», погибших при авиаударе коалиции (CIT named the fighters of "PMC Wagner", who died in the air strike coalition) - Kommersant, February 12, 2018
- U.S. Strikes Killed Scores of Russia Fighters in Syria, Sources Say - Bloomberg, February 13, 2018
- US Strikes Kill 100 Russian Fighters In Syria - ZeroHedge, February 13, 2018
- More than 640 Russian mercenary soldiers killed in Syria - Daily Mail, February 13, 2018
- A massive battle between US and Syrian pro-regime forces reportedly killed several Russians - Alex Lockie, Business Insider, February 13, 2018
- Шаманов назвал недостоверными данные о гибели большого количества россиян в Дейр-эз-Зоре - TASS, February 14, 2018
- (Shamanov called data on the deaths of a large number of Russians in Deir ez Zor as unreliable) MP Vladimir Shamanov is the Duma defense committee chair
- There are lots of signs that someone is deliberately exaggerating the picture... Detailed verification of information is on-going. But there is unfortunately no reliable, deserving information [so far].
- Neither Kremlin nor Pentagon confirm reports of alleged Russian losses to US strike in Syria - RT, February 14, 2018
- Did the US knowingly strike Russian private military contractors in Syria? - Ruposters via Fort Russ, February 14, 2018
- Правда о группе Вагнера. Как все происходило на самом деле (The truth about the Wagner group. How it all happened in reality) - Chervonts, February 14, 2018
- Ex-Donbass opolchenie, based on his sources contacted at his initiative. Estimates the number of PMC killed standing now at over 40, approaching 50, and some 1.5 times more wounded
- Diplomat slams reports on numerous Russian deaths in Syria as terrorist-produced fake news - TASS, February 15, 2018
- "Кто здесь врать?"-Khrustalik, February 15, 2018, also on Facebook, as claimed:
- "According to my data as of today, irrevocable losses amounted to: 217 people - 5 SHO (штурмовой отряд-assault squad), 10 people - 2 SHO, 94 people "Spring" a.k.a "Carpathians". I have no figures how many died in the artillery division and the armored group" (but just one tank returned to the crossing)."As for the so-called "ISIS Hunters", my source barely heard about them" ( слышал о них только краем уха. )
- (He does not explain the method, it may be the number of those not heard back by himself and the friends after the attack)
- Жириновский заявил о сотнях погибших в Сирии «вагнеровцев» (MP Zhirinovsky said there were hundreds of dead 'Wagner' fighters in Syria) -Vzgliad, February 16, 2018
- Zhirinovsky: Now in Syria, a large group died. It's that, there are widows. It does not matter that they were not official servicemen - they are ours, Russian men. And 300 families were left without a father, without a husband
- Сафари номер шесть, Сафари номер шесть, окончание - Бойцовый кот Мурз (kenigtiger), February 16, 2018
- In this long post, the author says that (1) Wagner does exist, from his own experience in Donbass (2) his sources earlier gave him number of Russian losses at 150+, and he has no further updates
- How did the Wagnerites die in Syria? - video, Roi TV, YouTube, February 17, 2018
- (Khrustalik, Ivashov, Kalashnikov)
- Что-то здесь не так...СОВСЕМ НЕ ТАК (Something is wrong here...VERY WRONG)-Soldier of Fortune VK (claims a connection, quoted by el Murid, otherwise not known here), February 17, 2018
- Estimates losses at about 300. Says that air cover was supposed to be there, and it is unknown why it was not
- Коротко и емко: поставлена точка в спорах о потерях под Дейр-Эз-Зором 7—8 февраля(Brief and capacious: the final word in the dispute over the losses near Deir Ez-Zor on February 7-8) -Rusnext and several other sources with the identical quote, February 18, 2018
- Andrey Troshev (veterans' union leader linked with 'Wagner' leadership) is quoted saying that 14 were killed (in colorful, full of expletives language).
- Confirmed: Dozens of Russians injured in US airstrike in Syria - RIA Novosti via Fort Russ, February 20, 2018
Interviews
- СОЛДАТСКАЯ ПРАВДА. "ПОСЛЕДНИЙ БОЙ "ЧВК ВАГНЕРА" (Soldier's pravda/truth, the last battle of PMC "Wagner") - Hrustalik, Livejournal, February 14, 2018 - Interview with a participant of the battle on February 7, 2018 near Khsham (audio on YouTube),
- Interview with a Russian who was wounded in the coalition air strike near Khsham on February 7, 2018 (after crossing Euphrates on February 3). He tells that 3 Wagner detachments participated (normally 350 men each, but estimate for this battle is less, with some 700 in total). One of detachments, 'Karpaty', formerly 'Vesna', from L/DPR. There could be some Syrians but he was not in contact with any. All their radio conversations were in Russian (so he believes it is unlikely that it's not known who they were). They could be under Syrian flags (he mentions they were given flags, but unclear whether in this battle or at some time previously).
- «Куда их послали и почему? Как свиней отправили на убой», Znak, February 13, 2018 (partial German translation)
- Interview with the widow and the ataman of one of three killed Cossacks from Asbest, Stanislaw Matwejew (German transcription). Second name Igor Kossoturow, third not yet known. No military background, volunteered in Donbass in 2015/2016, then returned and later went to Syria, liberated oil fields from ISIS when it happened (say the people at home), all information about their deaths and circumstances comes through contacts in Donbass. German translation seems to be only partial, so maybe more interesting info in the original. -- CE (talk) 16:55, 17 February 2018 (UTC)
- Stanislav Matveev, Igor Kosoturov. Deaths, confirmed by a local MP, are among those five confirmed quickly (entered in discussion session). Stanislav's widow was interviewed, shown a videogame video, we link it on top of the page. Ataman says that in the first day he had information that 30 were killed, by 11 of February it was said that 217 were killed (this number is the same Khrustalik gives for losses of the 5th squad). But among those he knew, it was those two and one more man being verified. He was told that (those) bodies were already delivered to St. Petersburg. He believes that they first met/were recruited by Wagner people while training in Rostov. (Wagner training base is said to be Mol'kino, further south near Krasnodar). He does not know about financial/insurance part of this work. He first says that they were guarding a plant, and later that they were liberating plants, which were then handled to Syrians to guard--Resup (talk) 18:21, 17 February 2018 (UTC)
- Interview with the widow and the ataman of one of three killed Cossacks from Asbest, Stanislaw Matwejew (German transcription). Second name Igor Kossoturow, third not yet known. No military background, volunteered in Donbass in 2015/2016, then returned and later went to Syria, liberated oil fields from ISIS when it happened (say the people at home), all information about their deaths and circumstances comes through contacts in Donbass. German translation seems to be only partial, so maybe more interesting info in the original. -- CE (talk) 16:55, 17 February 2018 (UTC)
- Oleg Tsarev via Rusvesna, February 17, 2018
- I have lost friends in Syria. I did not want to write about it. There is a war, and I am sure that now there is a war against Russia on all fronts, and during the war it is necessary to talk carefully about the losses. For the same reason, I will not say (no need to ask) how many of them died in that battle. I will not talk about it, and not because I do not know.
- "В выходные похоронили 15-го". Знакомые бойцов "ЧВК Вагнера" – об их гибели в Сирии ("On the weekend the 15th was buried" Acquaintances of "PMC Wagner" fighters - about their deaths in Syria), Radio Freedom, February 19, 2018
- Interview with Yevgeny Shabayev, ataman of the Khovrino Cossack society, who personally saw in Khimki hospital eight men wounded in a battle near the village of Khsham, near the town of Deir ez-Zor,including his wounded friend.
- When 550 people are in a desert at night under fire, not many will survive. According to him(a friend) about two hundred people came alive and unharmed; what is the condition of the remaining ones - he can not say, but it was extremely difficult to survive there. For one simple reason: Helicopter escort, the so-called evacuation, never came, since the "Wagner PMC" does not have these helicopters. Proceeding from all this we can conclude about the dead. Zhirinovsky argues that more than 300 people, Viktor Alksnis says that 334. I believe that they are close to the truth. I have information from different sources and from different regions. So, last weekend, the 15th of those who died under that shelling was buried.
- (Interview was discussed in Russian sources, in particular the fact that it appeared on Radio Freedom was criticized, this video with Putin characterizing Radio Freedom as an arm of US services recalled).
- See also: Evgeny Shabaev controversy
- Что произошло на левом берегу Евфрата (what happened on the left bank of the Euphrates), interview with Alexander Borodai, now leader of the (semi-official ) 'Union of Volunteers of Donbass', March 1, 2018
- Borodai would not give the number of killed, but states that 'he understand perfectly' that it is much higher than Zakhraova or Troshev numbers (5 and 14, respectively). There is quite large number of people missing. The attack was aimed to capture an oil processing plant, owned by an Arab clan/tribe involved in oil trade, on a scale of 40 mln USD per week. That clan had relations with everybody else, and in particular was supported by the US, and located in their de-escalation zone. Borodai avoids giving specific details due to his semi-official role, 'corporate ethics', and the on-going war.
- Borodai was Strelkov friend in the past, but they had a bitter split later. Borodai role is essentially semi-official public relations, supporting official versions of events, but his base consists of Donbass volunteers who are very disturbed by those events, and he needs to take this into consideration too.
- Prigozhin reveals details of Wagner clashes with Americans in Syria - Moskovskii Komsomolets, February 8, 2023
- On February 8, 2018, there was not a single Syrian among those storming Conoco
- PMC Wagner sustained heavy losses
- “Who won this battle, the Americans or the Wagner PMC? Of course, the Wagner PMC.” "In that battle near Hasham, the Americans wanted to put an end to the Wagner PMC, but they only made us stronger""
- Interview is also published on the Concord group official telegram channel, edited 8 Febr. 2023
February 10th attack
- CNN publishes shots of the US Air Force attack on the Syrian Army and the Wagner PMC (Rusvesna); Several Russians killed in US airstrikes in Syria, friends say and US-led coalition bombs pro-regime tank in Syria - CNN, February 13, 2018
- A US jet destroyed a Russian-made T-72 battle tank in 'self-defense' in Syria - Alex Lockie, Business Insider, February 13, 2018
- Video: US-led Coalition Strikes Positions Of Syrian Government Forces In Deir Ezzor Province - South Front, February 13, 2018
- The U.S. is bombing Syrian government aligned troops in STATIC, DEFENSIVE position. (Tank behind prepared berms.) - Moon of Alabama on Twitter
- Pro-government tank destroyed in second ‘defensive’ US airstrike in Syria this week - RT, February 14, 2018
- “We detected and saw a tank that took a shot at us,” Harrigan said. “It continued to move, so we again executed self-defense rules of engagement to protect ourselves.”
March 2018
- Pentagon: Russian Guidance Prevented Clash With Coalition Forces in Syria - Sputnik, March 28, 2018
- Mattis said that Russian mercenary elements last week moved into more advanced positions near Deir ez-Zor across the deconfliction line and came "too close" to coalition and partner forces.
- Major showdown between US and Russian backed forces in Deir Ezzor as both sides commit reinforcements - AMN, April 13, 2018
April 2018
- Update: Map showing reported Syrian Army advance against US-backed forces in east Deir Ezzor - AMN, April 29, 2018 (4:55 P.M.)
- Breaking: Syrian Army retreats from all new gains in Deir Ezzor following counter-attack by US-backed forces - AMN, April 29, 2018 (6:02 P.M.)
- SDF Regain Control of Villages Near Euphrates Captured by Syrian Army - Reports - Sputnik, April 29, 2018
- US-led jets bombed pro-Assad forces advancing on Deir Ezzor: Report - Middle East Eye, April 30, 2018
June 2018
- Syrian Government, YPG Reach Deal To Share Oil From Omar Field In Eastern Syria: Turkish Media - SouthFront, June 2, 2018
- The SDF (YPG) de-facto controls about 70% of the Syrian oil resources. However, the US-backed force has no capabilities to use this control for gaining revenue on a constant basis. So, it cooperates with the Syrian government to run its oil resources.
Analysis
- See also discussion of analysis.
What happened?
- Syria - U.S. May Have Arranged "Self Defense" Attack On Syrian Government Forces - Moon of Alabama, February 8, 2018
- Коротко по Сирии. 10.02.2018 (Briefly about Syria) - Colonel Cassad, February 10, 2018
- “Wagner” Private military company could be a code name for Israel’s black-op - Scott Humor, February 13, 2018
- U.S. Strikes And ‘Scores’ Of Killed ‘Russian Fighters’ In Syria - South Front, February 14, 2018
- US strike on pro-government forces in Deir-ez-Zour region on 08.02.2018. Russian media. Part 1 - el_temif_1, February 14, 2018
- О потерях под Дейр-эз-Зор (About the losses near Deir ez Zor) - chervonec-001, February 15, 2018
- Russia’s Foreign Ministry: reports of ‘scores of Russians’ killed in Syria are disinformation - Alexander Mercouris, The Duran, February 16, 2018
- “Wagner” In Syria: Is The Iranian Tail Trying To Wag The Russian-American Dog? - Andrew Korybko, Eurasia Future, February 15, 2018
- Syria SITREP: Approximate figures of the US airstrike in Syria & lessons learned - The Saker, February 15, 2018
Putin's orders?
- Putin had to approve Russian attack on US troops - Ralph Peters, New York Post, February 13, 2018
- Risking Major Escalation, Trump Weighs Killing Of Russian Fighters In Syria As Sign Of "Tough Stance" Toward Putin - ZeroHedge, February 21, 2018
- Russian troll farm financier also backs Russian mercenaries in Syria: Officials - ABC News, February 21, 2018
- Here The Washington Post makes a number of claims citing unidentified intelligence sources and little else in terms of evidence, in an article written by Ellen Nakashima, Karen DeYoung and Liz Sly , February 22, 2018
- Russia's Mercenary Debacle in Syria - Neil Hauer, Foreign Affairs, February 26, 2018
- Americans and Russians Fought a Battle in Syria — It’s Time to Care - David French, National Review, February 28, 2018