Russian military forces reportedly staged a significant operation against Russia’s Wagner mercenary group in Syria, including the arrest of key personnel and raids on their offices, according to various Arabic media sources over the weekend.

This follows the alleged declaration by Wagner group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin that his forces had taken control of the Russian city of Rostov and were advancing towards Moscow.

A joint operation conducted by Russian military police and Syrian intelligence was reported by Al-Hadath, a Saudi Arabia TV news channel, leading to the detention of the Wagner unit leader in As Suwayda, southern Syria, along with three high-ranking commanders at the Khmeimim Air Base. This arrest campaign was reported to have taken place on Friday evening, June 23, coinciding with the same day Prigozhin’s armed forces announced their control over the Russian city and their progress towards the capital.

The military police reportedly targeted Wagner offices in multiple Syrian cities, including Deir ez-Zur, Hama, and Damascus. Wagner leaders, recruiters, and fighters were allegedly detained during these raids, with three officers, including a lieutenant colonel, reportedly being taken into custody by Russian forces.

These developments come amid Syria’s ongoing support for Russia, with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad endorsing Russia’s involvement in Ukraine and his openness to increasing Russian military presence in his country.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergey Vershinin, urged Assad over the weekend to prevent any Wagner fighters from leaving Syria without Moscow’s approval. This information has been confirmed by officials from the Pentagon and the German defense department.

Contrarily, Telegram channels close to Wagner denied reports of detainment but didn’t dispute the raid allegations. One such channel, ‘Orchestra Wagner,’ linked to the paramilitary group, stated that reports of fighters’ detention in Syria were “not true.”

Analyst Waiel Olwan, based in Istanbul, suggested to Al-Hadath that the Russian military’s actions were “precautionary,” and added that Wagner members were allegedly under house arrest at the Khmeimim Air Base. Olwan also indicated that while Prigozhin announced his march to Moscow, Wagner fighters in Syria did not rebel against Russian forces and followed their orders.

  Damascus, Russia, Syria, Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin