Classified footage of PMC Wagner debacle in Syria published online
13 June, 2023 The US military destroyed the equipment of the Assad forces and PMC Wagner in Deir ez-Zour. February 2018. Syria.
Photo of the mass media of the Russian Federation Classified photos of the defeat of PMC Wagner in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, appeared in the public domain after being hidden for 5 years. The battle took place in 2018 on the night of February 7-8 in the Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor near the village of Hisham.
When trying to attack the Syrian military on the positions of the Arab-Kurdish "Syrian Democratic Forces" about a hundred militants died. Most of them are Russian mercenaries of the so-called "PMC Wagner," who fought on the side of the Syrian army. On February 7, 2018, the Syrian military, together with the Wagner mercenaries, began to approach the Conoco gas processing plant.
By evening, there were more than 500 military personnel and 27 vehicles, including tanks and armored personnel carriers. About 30 kilometers away was an American logistics station. When armed men and equipment began to accumulate near the plant by 15:00, the Green Berets and the U.S.
Marines began to organize a small response team - about 16 soldiers with four MRAPs.
The U.S. military destroyed the equipment of the Assad forces and PMC Wagner in Deir ez-Zor. February 2018. Syria.
Photo of the mass media of the Russian Federation
Then three tanks belonging to the Syrian army approached from a distance of about 1.5 kilometers from the plant. At a small outpost near the plant were about 30 Delta Force soldiers, along with the Kurdish and Arab military. Around 10 p.m., they spotted a convoy of tanks and armored personnel carriers advancing in their direction through nearby buildings, where they tried to hide them before the attack.
At 22:30, the Syrian army launched an attack. The outpost was attacked by tanks, artillery, and mortars.
The U.S. military tried to contact its Russian counterparts to stop the offensive. Unsuccessfully, they fired several warning shots at the convoy. For three hours, American warplanes fired on the convoy.
Drones, fighters, bombers, and military helicopters flew to the scene of the battle in turn. The response team from the logistics station advanced to the scene of the battle.
The US military destroyed the equipment of the Assad forces and PMC Wagner in Deir ez-Zour. February 2018.
Syria. Photo of the mass media of the Russian Federation
On February 8, at about 2:00 a.m., the Russians and Syrians began to retreat, and the American military and the Syrian opposition stopped firing. The command of the US-led international coalition then estimated the losses of attackers per 100 people (with 300-500 participants in the attack).
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that Operation PMC Wagner was not agreed upon with the Russian military.
Therefore, when the American headquarters asked the Russians who exactly was going to attack the plant controlled by Kurdish troops, the Russian military replied that there were no Russian units in that area.