The "Wall Street Journal" reported today that U.S. intelligence has learned that the Russian-affiliated group "Wagner" may be supplying the Lebanese Hezbollah with an air defense system. U.S. officials stated that the White House has not yet confirmed whether the SA-22 system uses anti-aircraft missiles and air defense guns to intercept aerial threats such as planes and drones, according to the newspaper. The report indicates that the White House is concerned about this possibility and is monitoring discussions between Wagner and Hezbollah.
Have the systems been supplied to Hezbollah? The newspaper states: "U.S. officials have not been able to confirm the system’s shipment so far, but they noted the presence of a carrier deployed to deter Hezbollah in the eastern Mediterranean from opening Israel's northern front." Wagner has a presence in Syria, where there has been communication with many Hezbollah fighters recently. According to the Brookings Institution, Wagner has also been actively involved in Libya, Mozambique, Mali, the Central African Republic, and Sudan.
