ISW: Iran backfills formerly Wagner-held position in Syria

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel backfilled a formerly Wagner-held position in Sukhnah in central Syria on September 28, supporting Iranian efforts to establish a permanent presence in Syria.

Wagner forces withdrew from Sukhnah, among other positions in the central Syrian desert, in September 2023 as part of Wagner’s departure from Syria. Iran commonly uses the route running through Sukhnah to move forces and weapons throughout Syria, which the backfilling may further facilitate, Caliber.Az reports citing the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The Russian Defence Ministry ordered the Wagner Group operating in Syria to leave the country or join the Russian armed forces on August 27. There were more than 1,500 Wagnerites in the country and about 3,000 more Syrians working for the Wagner Group. Russian military bloggers stated that it would be more profitable for mercenaries to transfer their military assets to Iran than to the Russian Defence Ministry.