Intelligence Data Says Wagner Plans To Supply Air Defense To Hezbollah Or Iran, White House: We Monitor

JAKARTA - The White House said it would monitor reports of a Russian Wagner Group plan to supply air defense capabilities to the militant group Hezbollah or Iran, as part of an unprecedented cooperation between the two countries.

Citing newly shared intelligence data, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the United States would monitor the matter closely and be ready to impose sanctions on Russian individuals or groups if this transfer occurs.

"Our information shows that Wagner, at the direction of the Russian government, is preparing to provide Hezbollah or Iran with air defense capabilities," Kirby said on Tuesday.

This development comes amid growing concerns in Washington about the potential to deepen military ties between Moscow and Tehran, as the war in Ukraine drags on.

Such an alliance, Kirby said, "explainedly harming Ukraine, of course harming neighboring Iran, and honestly harming the international community".

He said in return Iran was considering providing Russia with ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah's possibility of gaining an air defense system raised additional concerns during Israel's continuing war in Gaza, which is now entering its seventh week, which US officials fear will expand into a wider regional conflict.

"We will closely monitor whether Wagner provides military equipment to Hezbollah or Iran," Kirby said.

"We are ready to use our counterterrorism sanctions authority against individuals or Russian entities who make transfers that destabilize this," he said.

It is known that Hezbollah and Israel have been involved in cross-border fighting since October 7, when Palestinian militants Hamas attacked Israel's southern region and sparked a crisis in Gaza.

However, US officials say that Hezbollah, for now, has no plans to engage in a full-scale war with Israel.