Konflikten i Syrien

For the first time, clear evidence emerged in Palmyra of not only Russian special forces but Russian mercenaries connected directly to President Vladimir Putin on the front lines.

A photograph posted online by Isil of captured munitions showed an unusual type of hand grenade.

It was identified by a team from the Armaments Research consultancy as an MIB “grenade mine”, a Russian explosive device that is mostly used by its special forces.

Since then, unchallenged reports have appeared in a St Petersburg newspaper, Fontanka, that a private Russian mercenary company was taking part in the Syria campaign - and taking casualties. Some members reported taking part in the battle for Palmyra.

The company, known as “Wagner”, is based in the same Russian town, Molkino, as the 10th Brigade of GRU military intelligence special forces, according to Fontanka, which interviewed its operatives.

It has lost members in both Ukraine and Syria - and they have been personally honoured by President Putin, despite private military contracting firms being illegal in Russia.

One platoon of Wagner fighters is said to be not even Russian but Serb - adding yet another nationality to the fighters from around the world fighting on all sides of the conflict. The leader of this group, Davor Savicic, a Bosnian Serb, was nicknamed "Elvis" and celebrated for his “kill record” when fighting in the civil war in his own country two decades ago.

Adam Entous ‏@adamentous 19 tim
CIA drawing up "Plan B" weapons list for Syrian rebels that includes anti-aircraft, anti-artillery weapons http://on.wsj.com/1Xudct8 via @WSJ

On Tuesday, the al-Qaida affiliated Nusra Front, which is playing a pivotal role in the fighting that has been taking place in the strategic village of al-Eis in southern Aleppo, released a video purportedly documenting the Iranian forces fleeing from the battlefield.

The video shows Iran's Special Forces, as well as fighters from Lebanese and Iraqi militias who fought alongside them, running away from the war-torn village amid Nusra's intensive bombardment on their positions.

According to unofficial Syrian reports, more than 30 soldiers from Brigade 65, Iran's Special Forces brigade, have been killed since their arrival in Syria, senior commanders among them.