Washington: Russia’s Wagner Group is getting ready to dispatch air defence missile system to Hezbolla as Lebanese militia is taking on Israel amid the region’s pitched fight, reports citing US intelligence said.
The discussions are underway between both parties on the SA-22 system that can work anti-aircraft missiles and guns to combat airstrikes.
Russia’s truck mounted surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery weapons system is also known as Pantsir-S1.
American officials are monitoring the deal development as clashes between Israel and Hamas-supporting Hezbollah increased along the Lebanese border.
The SA-22 system, already in use in the Russian-Ukraine war, is more likely to be deployed in the Middle East to work against Israel’s airstrikes.
The air defence missile system is to be delivered to Lebanon even as the Iran-backed militia group’s personnel are currently stationed in Syria, New York Post reported.
However, whether the system will be transported from Lebanon to Gaza where Hamas is fighting Israel is yet to be seen.
Russian officials have not yet reacted to the reported discussion happening between Wagner and Hezbollah.
The US has already stationed an aircraft barrier in the Eastern Mediterranean to stop Hezbollah from attacking Israel.
This move follows President Joe Biden’s earlier warning against forces opposing Israel in the region from assaulting Israel.
Notwithstanding the warning, the heads of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad together announced united war against Israel last week, according to New York Post.
The leaders reportedly set the goal for ‘a real victory for the resistance in Gaza and Palestine’, against Israel’s ‘treacherous and brutal aggression’ against people in Gaza.