The Deir ez-Zor Incident: U.S. Air Raid against Russian Mercenaries in Syria

Abstract

Russian private military companies have been present in Syria since 2013 and played an active role in the conflict, often also in combat. Upon the February 7, 2018 Deir ez-Zor clash – when U.S. forces killed more than 70 soldiers of the Russian private military company Wagner in air and artillery raids – the authors offer an overview of the Wagner Group’s background and functioning, as well as an evaluation of the incident itself.