Amid the Israel-Hamas war, the United States intelligence has said that Russian mercenary group Wagner is preparing to deliver an advanced air defense missile system to Lebanon-backed terror outfit Hezbollah as they continue to clash with Israel as Lebanese militia group clashes with Israel, reported the New York Post citing the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
The WSJ report mentioned that American officials are currently keeping an eye on the discussions between Wagner and Lebanon’s Hamas-supporting militia over the possible delivery of the SA-22, as per the NY Post.
SA-22 is a system that uses anti-aircraft missiles and guns to combat airstrikes, the report added. It is also known as Pantsir-S1, and is a truck-mounted surface-to-air missile, anti-aircraft artillery weapons system made in Russia.
The weapon system was seen in action during the Russia-Ukraine war and coudld aslo be deployed in the Middle East as a defence for the Iran-backed terror group against Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza.
This comes as clashes along the Lebanon border intensify after Israel pounded the Gaza Strip killing over 8,000 people so far. US officials have said the SA-22 is yet to be delivered but added that personnel from Wagner and Hezbollah are stationed in Syria, another nation supporting Hamas in the war against the Jewish nation.
The New York Post stated that there has been no comment from Russia on the alleged development.
Meanwhile, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry has said it will soon send a shipment of 28 tonnes (around 31 US tons) containing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, reported CNN. This aid will consist of medicine, hemostatic agents and dressing materials, and it "will be handed over to representatives of the Egyptian Red Crescent Society for further shipment to the Gaza Strip," the ministry further added.