Russia’s Wagner Group mercenary force is considering providing air defense weapon systems to Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon as part of a growing defense cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, U.S. officials said.
The Iranian regime also is seeking to purchase billions of dollars worth of military hardware from Russia, including helicopters, radar and combat trainer aircraft, the White House said Tuesday.
“Russia has also been helping Iran develop and maintain its satellite collection capabilities and other space-based programs,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. “Our information further indicates that Wagner, at the direction of the Russian government, was preparing to provide an air defense capability to either Hezbollah or Iran.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, Wagner is planning to supply Hezbollah with the Pantsir-S1 system, a self-propelled, surface-to-air missile and anti-artillery weapon known as SA-22 by NATO.
The Kremlin-funded Wagner Group had a leading role in Russia’s war against Ukraine until co-founder Yevgeny Prigozhin led an uprising against his country’s military leaders. He was killed with nine others in late August, when his private jet crashed north of Moscow, an incident that several observers described as suspicious.
Hezbollah has launched strikes against sites in northern Israel since the start of its war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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