Hezbollah fighters stand on tanks during a military exercise near Mlita, South Lebanon, May 21, 2023. (Courtesy of: Jad Abou Jaoude/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — The US allegedly has intelligence that the Wagner Group, the Russian paramilitary group, may provide an air defense system to Hezbollah, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Thursday.
The alleged system is the SA-22, which uses antiaircraft missiles and air defense guns, to intercept aircraft.
A US official told the WSJ that the US hasn’t confirmed that the system has been sent, but is monitoring the situation and is concerned that Hezbollah might have access to the air defense system.
In mid-October, the US positioned an aircraft carrier in the Eastern Mediterranean to show the US's commitment to Israel and to serve as a deterrent to Iran and Hezbollah not to get involved in a full-scale conflict with Israel.
Assad
Wagner has personnel in Syria, where Hezbollah fighters have also fought with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.
According to CNN, which cites two sources familiar with US intelligence, the US has information that Assad has agreed to provide Hezbollah with a missile defense system made in Russia.
The Russian mercenary organization the Wagner Group, which operates in Syria, has allegedly been given the mission of delivering the surface-to-air SA-22 missile system, the sources said.
However, the sources stated that it is not clear whether it has already been delivered or how close it is to delivery. The system was allegedly originally provided by Russia for use by the Syrian government, the sources said.
One of the sources said the US has been monitoring the recent movement of the system, which is also known as a Pantsir. The other source said the US assessment was based partly on intelligence obtained about discussions among Assad, Wagner and Hezbollah about the delivery of the system.
Since the start of the war between Hamas and Israel on Oct. 7, bombardments between Hezbollah and its allies among the Palestinian factions on the one hand, and Israel on the other, have so far claimed more than 50 lives in southern Lebanon, most of them Hezbollah fighters, as well as several civilians.
The fighting intensified on Thursday evening, on the eve of a much-anticipated speech by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The Shiite leader has remained silent since the beginning of the conflict. Observers fear a regional conflagration if Hezbollah and Iran decide to open new fronts against Israel, in support of Hamas.