ISIS Hunters | |
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Active | 2017 - 2023[1] |
Country | ![]() |
Role | Special forces |
Engagements | Syrian 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]
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]
The group's strength was probably a few dozen men; some of its fighters in propaganda videos appear to be particularly old.[5]
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]