ISIS Hunters
Active2017 - 2023[1]
Country Syria
RoleSpecial forces
EngagementsSyrian Civil War

The ISIS Hunters were a special forces unit of the Syrian Army, formed in 2017 during the Syrian civil war. The unit was informal part of Wagner PMC in Syria.[2][3] Between 2021 and 2023, the unit was dissolved.[4]

History

The ISIS Hunters were formed in early 2017 after the Syrian Armed Forces were routed in the December 2016 battle of Palmyra.[2] The group's fighters are integrated into the 5th Army Corps, a formation formed in November 2016 with Russian support, composed entirely of volunteers.[5]

Russia's goal in forming the ISIS Hunters was to build forces that can serve as a counterweight to Iran in Syria, as their objectives in the region differ from those of Moscow.[5] The training of the ISIS Hunters was supervised by the Russians, particularly by the private military company Wagner Group, and their weapons and equipment are also supplied by Russia.[2]

Personnel

The group's strength was probably a few dozen men; some of its fighters in propaganda videos appear to be particularly old.[5]

Areas of operation

In early 2017, the ISIS Hunters were operating in the Palmyra area, where they were responsible for protecting the military airport, as well as gas and oil fields.[5]

In February 2018, the ISIS Hunters were engaged in the Battle of Khasham near Deir ez-Zor against the Syrian Democratic Forces.[6] During this battle, they were subjected to U.S. bombing, resulting in the loss of twenty of their men.[6] Following this incident, the group issued a statement about the casualties they suffered during the fighting.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Как будут делить сирийский "Вагнер" Об этом сообщает "Рамблер"". Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Historicoblog (4) (2017-04-14). "Historicoblog (4): Soldats d'Assad 5/ISIS Hunters". Historicoblog (4). Retrieved 2023-03-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ "'ISIS Hunters' belies mercenaries' true intent: to protect Russian interests in Syria".
  4. ↑ Al-Jabassini, Abdullah (2019). From Insurgents to Soldiers: The Fifth Assault Corps in Daraa, Southern Syria. Wartime and Post-Conflict in Syria. European University Institute. ISBN 978-92-9084-767-0.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Syrie: les ISIS Hunters, ces soldats du régime de Damas formés par la Russie". 2022-02-18. Archived from the original on 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  6. 1 2 "Pro-gov't ISIS Hunters release official statement after US airstrikes in Deir Ezzor". 2018-02-12. Archived from the original on 2018-02-12. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
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