The ISIS Hunters (Arabic: صائدوا داعش, Russian: Охотники за ИГИЛ) were a special forces unit of the Wagner group, created in 2017 during the Syrian civil war. The unit was an official part of the Wagner private military company and fought alongside the Syrian Army's 5th Assault Corps in Syria. Between 2021 and 2023, the unit was officially ended. However, reports of their activities and symbols were still shared on Russian Special Forces Telegram, showing that the unit continued to operate until the fall of the Assad government in 2024.
Foundation
The ISIS Hunters were created in early 2017. Their Facebook page was launched on February 27, and they also joined Twitter the next day. The Syrian government needed this group after its forces were defeated in the Battle of Palmyra in December 2016.
The group’s name, "Islamic State Hunters," refers to the jihadist group known as ISIS. The fighters are part of the 5th Army Corps, a unit formed in November 2016 with help from Russia. This unit is made up entirely of volunteers.
According to Stéphane Mantoux, a history professor who studies the conflict between Iraq and Syria, "Russia is trying to create forces that can balance Iran’s influence in Syria, as Iran’s goals there differ from Russia’s."
The training of the ISIS Hunters was managed by Russia, especially by the Wagner Group, a private military company. Russia also provided their weapons and equipment. At the same time, Russian officials used the group to protect their economic interests in Syria. Fighters were sent to guard oil and gas fields.
History
The ISIS Hunters were created in early 2017 after the Syrian Arab Armed Forces lost the battle of Palmyra in December 2016. The group’s members joined the 5th Army Corps, a unit formed in November 2016 with Russian support. This unit was made up only of volunteers.
Russia helped create the ISIS Hunters to fight ISIS and build forces that could balance Iran’s influence in Syria. Russia and Iran have different goals in the region. Russian trainers, including the private military company Wagner Group, taught the ISIS Hunters. Russia also provided their weapons and equipment.
The ISIS Hunters were connected to the capture of two Russian soldiers, Roman Zabolotny and Grigory Tsurkanu, by militants. On October 5, 2017, the unit’s official Twitter account announced it would pay $1 million for each captured soldier.
The unit later joined a private military company called Al-Sayad Security Company, based in Al-Suqaylabiyah. This company was created in March 2017 and recruited volunteers aged 22 to 46 who had strong physical fitness.
Formation
The group was part of the 5th Army Corps. Other information states that the ISIS Hunters were a separate group. Additionally, the unit was voluntary, and service in it was different from regular military service in the Ba'athist Syrian Government's Army.
The group's size was estimated to have between 20 and several dozen members in 2017. Many of them had family members killed by ISIS fighters. Training was managed by Russian soldiers from PMC Wagner. Weapons and equipment were also provided by Russia. Recruits came from many areas, including coastal regions and rural areas in northern and southeastern parts of Hama. Recruitment for the ISIS Hunters required rigorous and challenging training programs that trained fighters in all types of combat skills. The unit's training center was located in Latakia.
Equipment included standard uniforms, helmets, and body armor. Weapons used by the group included assault rifles such as AK-47, AKS-74U, AK-74M, and AKM, grenade launchers like RPG-7, and machine guns. The group also had access to drones and 122 mm D-30 howitzers.
Known Engagements
On March 23, 2017, near Palmyra in the Al-Shaer gas field area, the unit fought 120 Islamic State fighters, killing 24 militants and injuring 12 others. The ISIS Hunters also destroyed an enemy anti-aircraft gun using a drone. Syrian T-72 tanks supported the unit during the battle.
The unit was especially effective in clearing the "cauldron" near Aqrabat and taking control of Jabal al-Bilas.
During an offensive near Deir ez-Zor in September of that year, the unit was the first to cross the Euphrates River.
In February 2018, the ISIS Hunters fought in the Battle of Khasham near Deir ez-Zor against the Syrian Democratic Forces. During this battle, they were attacked by U.S. bombing, which caused the alleged loss of 80 to 100 men. After this event, the group reported losing 20 men during the fighting.
As of April 2019, the unit had 30 members killed, with 20 of those deaths occurring in February 2018 near Khasham when the group was hit by U.S. Air Force airstrikes.
Notable personnel
The group's number of people was probably fewer than 100. Syria has not released any official numbers about the "ISIS Hunters" troops. The group likely has only a small group of men. In some videos, some fighters appear to be very old. The group is made up mostly of Russian people.
Flag and symbolism
In the center of the emblem is a skull and crossbones inside a target, which represents the Syrian Republican Guard. Bullet holes are shown on each side of the emblem. At the top and bottom, the words "ISIS Hunters" are written in both English and Arabic.