The White House declassified intelligence on Tuesday indicating that the Wagner Group, an infamous Russian mercenary group, is planning to provide sophisticated air-defense capabilities to Iran or their Lebanese proxy group Hezbollah.
“Our information indicates that Wagner, at the direction of the Russian government, was preparing to provide an air defense capability to either Hezbollah or Iran,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday.
“We are certainly prepared to use our counterterrorism sanctions authorities against Russian individuals or entities that might make these destabilizing transfers,” Kirby added.
In early November, unnamed U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal that Wagner forces were preparing to send Hezbollah the Pantsir-S1, a mobile anti-aircraft rocket launcher, along with 30mm ammunition to use the system. “The information that was reported by the Wall Street Journal is concerning,” White House spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said following the article. “We know that Russia has refused to condemn Hamas for its horrific terrorist attack on Israel, and they recently hosted Hamas officials in Moscow. This comes as Russia is continuing to commit atrocities in Ukraine.”
Fighting has continued to escalate on the Israel-Lebanon border in recent weeks following Hamas’s surprise invasion on October 7. In mid-October, Israel evacuated large stretches of northern border communities after several rockets were fired at civilian infrastructure from the Lebanese terrorist group.
“The response to the mistake you might make with our resistance will be resounding,” a senior Hezbollah official said during a rally in Beirut at the time. “Because what we have is faith, and God is stronger than you, all your battleships, and all your weapons.” International media outlets reported that demonstrators waved Palestinian and Hezbollah flags while chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”
On Tuesday night local time, Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen warned the United Nations Security Council that its failure to fully implement Resolution 1701, passed by the body at the culmination of the 2006 Second Lebanon War outlining the disarmament of Hezbollah, would likely lead to a broadening of the current conflict. “For the good of regional stability and to avoid further escalation, the next session of the UN Security Council must adopt a totally different approach in order to end the dangerous violations by Hezbollah and other terrorist groups on the border,” the minister noted in a statement.
In June, Wagner Group forces conducted a surprise counter-offensive in Russia, taking control of vast swaths of southern provinces bordering Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin denounced the move as a “stab in the back” to “our county and our people.” Several media outlets reported at the time that Wagner’s military convoy passed through Voroneh, covering over half the distance to Moscow hours into its so-called “March for Justice” offensive.
“We are fighting for the lives and security of our people, for our sovereignty and independence, for the right to remain Russia, a state with a thousand-year history,” Putin said after news of the takeover of Ronstov-on-Don was publicized. “All those who deliberately stepped on the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed insurrection, who took the path of blackmail and terrorist methods, will suffer inevitable punishment, will answer both to the law and to our people.”
Putin had vowed “decisive actions” to quell the “armed rebellion” as units across southwestern Russia scrambled to intercept the force. A “counterterrorist operation regime” was subsequently declared in Moscow, giving authorities upgraded emergency powers.
Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko announced shortly after that offensive that he had brokered a deal between Putin and then-Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin to avert an armed conflict, with the latter’s forces halting their advance at the outskirts of Moscow. The agreement will prevent “a bloodbath on the territory of Russia,” Lukashenko said, claiming the deal is “absolutely advantageous and acceptable” for Wagner but without referencing specific details.
The complex relationship between Prigozhin and Putin had been strained in the months ahead of the offensive following disagreements over the handling of the war in Ukraine. In May, the Wagner Group removed mercenaries from the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, citing Russian military incompetence and mismanagement. “I am withdrawing the Wagner PMC units from Bakhmut, because in the absence of ammunition they are doomed to senseless death,” Prigozhin said in full military fatigues and carrying an automatic weapon.
Despite the peace agreement, Prigozhin was killed when his plane crashed outside Moscow. The Kremlin denied involvement in the incident, which it claimed resulted from a technical failure on board Prigozhin’s aircraft.