Russia's Mercenary Collision in Syria
A February 7 coalition airstrike in Deir Ez-Zor, Syria, killed dozens of Russian mercenaries. The incident also exposed the role of mercenary groups – or private military contractors – like the Russian-based Wagner Group used in the Syrian war. The airstrike also set a new low in the threshold for direct military collision between Washington and Moscow – a possibility both sides appeared to play down.
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![Russia's Mercenary Collision in Syria Russia's Mercenary Collision in Syria](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2018/05/russia-mercenary-collision-syria.jpg/russia-mercenary-collision-syria.jpg?h=ba045b8c&itok=1LCNiUew)
A February 7 coalition airstrike in Deir Ez-Zor, Syria, killed dozens of Russian mercenaries. The incident also exposed the role of mercenary groups – or private military contractors – like the Russian-based Wagner Group used in the Syrian war. The airstrike also set a new low in the threshold for direct military collision between Washington and Moscow – a possibility both sides appeared to play down.