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The ISIS Hunters were a special forces unit of the Syrian Army, formed in 2017 during the Syrian civil war. The unit was informal part of Wagner PMC in Syria.[2][3] Between 2021 and 2023, the unit was formally dissolved.[4] However, their actions and patches were still being posted on Russian Special Forces Telegram, proving that the unit still existed and performed special operations in 2024.[citation needed]
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Belarusian. (June 2023) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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| ISIS Hunters | |
|---|---|
| Active | 2017–2023[1] |
| Country |  Syria |
| Role | Special forces |
| Engagements | Syrian Civil War |
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The ISIS Hunters were formed in early 2017 after the Syrian Armed Forces were routed in the December 2016 battle of Palmyra.[2] The group's fighters were integrated into the 5th Army Corps, a formation formed in November 2016 with Russian support, composed entirely of volunteers.[5]
Russia's goal in forming the ISIS Hunters was to build forces that can serve as a counterweight to Iran in Syria, as their objectives in the region differ from those of Moscow.[5] The training of the ISIS Hunters was supervised by the Russians, particularly by the private military company Wagner Group, and their weapons and equipment are also supplied by Russia.[2]
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The group's strength was probably a few dozen men.
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In early 2017, the ISIS Hunters were operating in the Palmyra area, where they were responsible for protecting the military airport, as well as gas and oil fields.[5]
In February 2018, the ISIS Hunters were engaged in the Battle of Khasham near Deir ez-Zor against the Syrian Democratic Forces.[6] During this battle, they were subjected to U.S. bombing, resulting in the alleged loss of between 80 and 100 of their men.[6] Following this incident, the group issued a statement about the casualties they suffered during the fighting.[5]
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