Deep Intel on US Troops ANNIHILATING Russian Mercenaries in Syria

[@jonbroadsword7572]

This became legendary because before the battle even began the American officers in charge of Deconfliction called their Russian counterparts several times to ask them to withdraw the Russian forces and the Russian officers repeatedly said there were NO Russian forces in that area.

[@stevechalmers9572]

Then called back after action to let them know, that indeed there were no Russian forces in the area lol.... I also saw survivors testimony about what happened. They didn't have a very good day....

[@nikolay-e8l]

There we’re mercanries not soldiers

[@jerseyshoredroneservices225]

And despite hearing first-hand that there were no Russians there the US was unwilling to support its people on the ground. That situation was just another lesson to the Russians that the Americans are weak and scared. Look where it's gotten us since then...

[@PatsRC]

Who was paying them?​@@nikolay-e8l

[@BackyardDogPark9862]

Seems like Imperial Japanese Army and Navy got along better than the Ruzzian Army and their "plausible deniability" Wagner mercs. Sure would be nice if Ruzzia could just be a normal country, instead of trying to emulate North Korean diplomacy efforts.

[@blakebrown534]

The funniest part is that Russia did not inform Wagner that they were turning off the air defense systems, so Wagner thought they had cover lol. Prigozhin was PISSED afterwards and tried to go to Shoigu and the MOD and basically ask them 'wtf are you guys doing?' and Shoigu wouldn't even talk with him lol. This is the kind of treatment Wagner was getting often from Shoigu and why Prigozhin started his mutiny.

[@chrishooge3442]

It's a toxic system as was the czarist...it will collapse.

[@rog69]

Yea sure. Nothing to do with some random dimwit in Wagner who assembled a ragtag force of Syrians trying to take a refinery for funnsies not even knowing who is occupying it. Obviously this wasn’t sanctioned by any official Russian authority, and possibly Wagner because at the local commander level they are semi-independent.

[@Alphacuremom55]

Looks like air defense was working just fine near Moscow on Prigozhins last flight

[@BleedingSnow]

It was and wasn't a mutiny, from Russia's perspective yes, but from Wagner their "march of justice" was to just remove Shougu & Gerasimov from office.

[@SavageHenry777]

​@@BleedingSnow So Wagner leadership were/are all mentally handicapped? "Just gonna remove these two close associates of Putin from office, he'll understand," lmao.

[@gregoryknox4444]

Former 10th SFGA guy here ......... love these interviews. Thanks for posting.

[@nicholasmic2495]

Out of context question, I've noticed more and more people with the 4444 in their names, and I found it interesting, as from a little kid the no.4 has followed me everywhere throughout my life. Birthdays, partners have noticed it appearing alongside me (validated im not crazy lol) Even had intricate vivid dreams with the no. 4 in some variation. Is it a number with some significance in your life? From my understanding, I have figured the number only begins to appear often when change is needed.

[@JuicedApe]

@@nicholasmic2495 Sounds like the movie the number 23

[@dannydetonator]

Luckily you don't live in China then, where 4 is a bad luck/cursed number which means something rude in spelling (forgot what).

[@Phildo8]

Former 5th Group here! Hope all is well brother! DE OPPRESSO LIBER

[@Goldfinch23]

​@nicholasmic2495 dude, I see the numbers 72 every where, I thought I was crazy for having the thought this number is following me, bit of a relief others feel the same

[@romanpotichko509]

As being myself a ukrainian and also russian speaking man let me clarify some translation from Prigozhin speak: 1. He says: As was shown in Syria, there were killed around 25 men - it was us, they (americans) fckn beaten our asses. 2. Then he states causalities from 1sq - around 5 men. From 2sq - around 10 men are 200 (200 or two hundreds in russia military means KIA. 300 or three hundreds means wounded or heavy wounded). So that part incorrectly translated into english. And at last he states about causalities of 3sq.

[@crazyyoda8721]

@@romanpotichko509 Thxs for that !

[@kevindorland738]

Thank you

[@Pwnulolumad]

ahh code 200 = KIA code 300 = wounded

[@mikehoncho7252]

Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦🇺🇸

[@_--Reaper--_]

This English isn't Englishing...

[@JanPierreLourens]

Not being an American, but have family that currently serve. I am so proud of you all. Even keeping us safe half around the globe.

[@ibrahimkuyumcu2649]

But America arms, trains and pays them.

[@TheJohnBrowningGunClub]

lol imagine thinking this

[@roberttauzer7042]

"half around the globe." Hm. Interesting phrasing. UK had mil. assets "half around the globe", and we used to call them colonizers and exploiters. Just something to think about ; )

[@JanPierreLourens]

@roberttauzer7042 lucky for me, we speak different English as USA english differs from England's English and differs from Australian English. So whatever English you speak, don't think you perfect

[@buddah_stick]

@@JanPierreLourens He is not questioning your grammar. Just your ethics.

[@eddiestray4870]

"A merry-go-round with heavy caliber machine-guns" was the best sentence I've seen in years! And it summarizes an WW2 saying: "If you shot someone and it answers with perfectly timed fire from small arms, they are british. If they answer with heavy machine-guns, it's the germans. But if there is a delay and they hit back with small arms, heavy guns, artillery, air support and the kitchen sink, it's the americans."

[@YG-kk4ey]

Don't think they had air support in WW2, but it's a great line

[@noneyaratman714]

​@@YG-kk4eyThey absolutely did.

[@jesperengelbredt]

@@YG-kk4ey You dont think the americans had air support in WWII? Not only did they have air support. They pretty much had air supremacy, along with the british.

[@paulblase3955]

@@YG-kk4eyThunderbolt (1)

[@EeZ3-808]

My son was an AH-64 crew chief for the birds involved here and told me about this when it happened. He couldn’t believe it and was concerned as well.

[@jchastain789]

That's kinda crazy I live in a small golf town right beside fort Bragg. Lots of crazy shit and stories around here lol

[@cambad9900]

Hmmm. There are no crew chiefs for Apache’s.

[@JHillNC]

​@@cambad9900 😂😂😂 Shouldn't speak of something to which you have no knowledge.

[@WorldTravelA320]

​@@cambad9900hmmm. What do you call the men and women who maintain those aircraft when they return? Oh yeah ...... Crew Chiefs

[@freebird3348]

@@cambad9900 Yes there are. A few seconds of googling proves you absolutely wrong, so why would you write such BS, do you enjoy putting people down?

[@TheGrimravager]

holy shit an in-depth 21 minute long video on the annihilation of Kasham? that's amazing

[@wotanscry1594]

did you take your little circumcised weeny out and played with it while listening?

[@daniel_dumile]

Exactly what I was looking for this week

[@boydgrandy5769]

I was privileged to know a B-17 pilot and group commander from the 8th Army Air Force when I grew up in a little town in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. His name was Ford Van Vorhes, who left the Army Air Corps as a full bird colonel. Very quiet man, always had the patience to talk to me and the kids who visited him at his ranch like an adult. It was only years later when I was informed about his service in the European Theater, and not from him. That came from my Dad, who respected Ford like no other man he knew. He was the real deal, and never said a word about it other than that he'd flown bombers and had been a Colonel.

[@dustysmoke4996]

I read somewhere that like 58,000 US airmen, mostly bomber crews, lost their lives during the air war against Germany from 1943 to 1945. More men than died in all of the Vietnam war. Thousands of bombers blown out of the sky, often with few if any parachutes left behind. And that doesn't count the airmen lost by the Brits and other allied fliers. Yeah, it wasn't just the infantry that paid the price in that war.

[@andresilvasophisma]

Just a bit more context. Russia initially denied they had soldiers there when the americans tried to de-escalate. Later they said that those were mercenaries and not official troops. A few years later they gave medals to the survivors of that battle. This is the closest you will get to an admission that those were indeed troops with orders coming from the government.

[@slartybarfastb3648]

The Russians denied, denied, and denied. After Wagner had been trounced for hours, the Russians called asking for a ceasefire so they could collect their dead and wounded. That was the ultimate admission they knew Russians were there. They had expected the Americans to pull out in the face of overwhelming firepower. The Russians repeatedly underestimate their enemies.

[@osric1730]

And yet that government with AA assets such that the Israelis cosied up to the Russians to facilitate F35 raids nevertheless sat on their hands whilst a fat lumbering c130 gunship tore up their plans unmolested?

[@teru797]

This is a dumb comment.

[@teru797]

They gave medals to wagner in ukraine. your point?

[@kimmogensen4888]

I don’t think it was official orders from Moscow but local money Assad wanted the oil, just because they get medals a few years later doesn’t mean it was official orders, remember they tried later to overthrow the government in Moscow, they are often criminals or people who are to undisciplined for the normal military

[@AM-el4iv]

I was a Navy Corpsman who did both convoys and air med evacs in Iraq in 2004 on Navy CH 46s. During the day we would be escorted by two Marine Cobras, and flew on Black Hawks back to my base from the 31st cash in Baghdad when dropping patients in the hospital.

[@darrelldrivon341]

Bless you doc

[@3EyedBro-tk2yt]

I never grow tired of hearing about this battle.

[@MyName-ln6mk]

Russia and Assad were battling ISIS. watch how bad things get now.

[@rustyshaklford9557]

Calling it a battle is a bit of a stretch.

[@3EyedBro-tk2yt]

@ rephrase. I never grow tired of hearing about this ass whoopin

[@bunkerhousing]

@@rustyshaklford9557 Yes, it was murder.

[@Bigdigs2]

@@rustyshaklford9557 Don’t be daft. It very much was a battle. That the outcome was extremely one sided, doesn’t negate that

[@davidl.7317]

With film, books and podcasts, these first person accounts of combat and battles, these memoies must be preserved for history. Thank you Kevin and Ward.

[@JinKazama92]

It's kind of cool having it as classified information.

[@ronwalsh]

Love it when we get the straight scoop about things happening out there. Thanks Mooch.

[@overworlder]

We constantly worry about crossing Russian and Chinese red lines and they exploit that all the time.

[@runrau9275]

Amazing in this day and age we can actually call them "Russian/China Red lines"

[@Dj.MODÆO]

The Russians and Chinese are a paper tiger and are bluffing HARD!

[@TIEZILAGEL420]

WAGNER EVEN TURNED ON RU$$IA .. RIGHT ¿

[@tau4333]

The funny/stupid thing is, most of these red lines were once made by us, not the Russians. E.g.: we invented the "no heavy weapons" red line, or the don't shoot into Russia, or the don't destroy the Kerch bridge red lines. When we broke them Russia was again playing the victim. But no one told the Russians that there is a don't bomb hospitals red line.

[@runrau9275]

@@tau4333 well said....

[@TamagoHead]

Thank you for your service! 👍💙❤️🇺🇸 Dad was AF SAC and mom was a civilian in logi at Hickman and had to delay her retirement during the 1st Gulf War. Navy aviators really impress me the more I learn in my old age, and am lucky enough to have had access to all the branches on Oahu. “You can take the pilot out of the plane, but you can’t take the plane out of the pilot.” I’m not sure how non-pilots view a Cessna, but for military planes, there is no such thing as a routine flight.

[@caramanico1]

TWO Marshall stacks now - I love it! One for the Les Paul, one for the SG - love that even more!!

[@hoilst265]

It still blows my mind that everyone uses Rode mics, too.

[@LillyMelody01]

🤘

[@randymichel459]

Speaking of Hollywood, I met an ordinance guy who served with you in the Diamondbacks (‘95-‘99). He works at my local airport. I neglected to get his name, but everybody called him Hollywood because he was usually in front of the camera when the spotlight was on the squadron or when you all were at sea. I asked him about the Payne Stewart flight and you, and he remembered that time well. I’ll have to get his name next time I go fly.

[@adambmahan]

To set the record straight: outside the oil refinery was a Ranger platoon and some Special Operations Command soldiers. There was only a handful of operators, most of the force was provided by the Ranger Regiment.

[@bobjones-bt9bh]

uh...Rangers are tier 2 SOF

[@useruseruseruseruser790]

@@bobjones-bt9bhAnd the force outside the refinery was described in this commentary as being Delta. He was setting the record straight. What dies Rangers being tier 2 have to do with anything ?

[@lbcguy8723]

@@bobjones-bt9bh and?

[@csh5414]

@@useruseruseruseruser790 Because he plays Call of Duty, so he knows his shit man.

[@ClinttheGreat]

@@bobjones-bt9bhYes and no. Within the Ranger Regiment (Tier 2) there is the Regimental Reconnaissance Company (fka Regimental Reconnaissance Detachment) which is considered Tier 1.

[@russiachinanorthkoreastatetv]

Happy health to all you veterans… especially if you’re wounded or sick or just dealing with the mental part … never give up! Reach out for help & find motivation from each other & from the older guys who led the way! Nobody is alone! Don’t ever forget that!

[@JohnMelland]

Thank you, US Army veteran, 52D10 generator mechanic plus. Best wishes to you as well.

[@robhutchins2721]

I worked F-16's and was working out of Al Jabber in Kuwait October of 2017 - January 2018 as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, our pilots talked about the pucker factor when interacting with Russian jets in the area.

[@lonpfrb]

If you don't have that factor your situational awareness is compromised...

[@ShirleyNeville-k6u]

Great conversation! Thanks guys!!

[@wadedante226]

As former AOin a,A7 squadron VA 72 ...I love your channel...I was in CAG 1...I served from 82-86...I made 3 deployments including operation eldorado canyon when the USS America bombed Libya..I'll never forget that night..LCMDR Randoph Robb was a real standup guy on that mission that night...I also served with Admiral Mark Fox when he was a J.O in VA-72....THANK YOU officer Carrol for all you do to keep informed and that Diamondbacks patch get a lot attention on my jacket....ThankYou for your service....you're better than all the mainstream news outlet...🙏🏾🇺🇲🙏🏾

[@blech71]

Thank you for your service! 🫡

[@jtbracknell]

I served on CV-66 from 84-88 as an IC and remember it well. Thanks for posting shipmate.

[@wadedante226]

​@jtbracknell It really was a great night. Thank You for your service as well.🙏🏾🇺🇲🙏🏾

[@meanonymous8793]

When I was stationed in South Korean their was an older woman that picked up our laundry. During the winter some of my platoon would sit around an open fire & sometimes she'd join us. She said when she was a little girl and the North had made it to Seoul. Her family & many in her village said "The Americans are here", and they immediately sighed with relief. We've never went in to conquer & stay. We've gone in to offer people a different choice. I mean that of course is my personal opinion. Maybe I'd like to think we give people the choice to govern themselves...✌️😳

[@chucksneed5947]

Is that why South Korea was ruled by a string of dictators until the 1980s?

[@nsdapcommunism2780]

Is that why you murdered 1 million iraqis, to offer people a different choice?

[@AmericanMilitaryNetwork]

Great video. I did a couple on this myself. Good to hear it told by an expert on the subject. Thank you!

[@WardCarroll]

Thanks for watching!

[@tommychew6544]

Great to hear more detail on this. I think I remember hearing a very watered-down version of this after it happened.

[@grok8211]

This is old news, there is full documentaries on it now.

[@jerseyshoredroneservices225]

Most versions of the story are heavily biased to make the American viewers like it. I remember watching the account on Sandboxx and it was pretty bad. The one that Task and Purpose did was pretty good.

[@jerseyshoredroneservices225]

​@@grok8211 Most of them are stories based on the event rather than documentaries. Most of the ones that I've seen are heavily biased

[@Cuck_life]

@@jerseyshoredroneservices225 How are they heavily biased ?

[@simonnot8487]

​@@jerseyshoredroneservices225I mean by all accounts, once both US and Russia "resolved" Wagner's designation, it became an one-sided affair. One force was dug in and had generous access to heavy air and fire support. The other force had 3 companies of light armor and infantry in the open, and... that's it.

[@h069401]

I plan to to wedge "pucker factor" into every conversation I roll into this week. Thanks Mooch.

Why, are you 9 years old or something?

[@sjsomething4936]

Great interview! I could swear that in another retelling of this engagement that there was an AC130 involved in the response as well.

[@rpeltier2621]

Several retellings. There's even a KZbin short saying Raptors and B-52s were involved. Like, why Rapters? They're an AA asset, not a ground attack asset, and it would take several hours to get a B-52 on station, though it would be useful if equipped with laser-guided small-diameter bombs (not sure if those were available at the time).

[@Amoparman408]

I heard it was A10s, 130s, Tremor Graboids, and a Sandworm.

[@andrewbevan4662]

B21s with rail guns

[@sdebeaubien]

Will have to go back and check out the episode with Lucky Luckadoo. I had the privilege of hearing Louis Zamperiini speak, when he was 92 or 93, back around 2012. Those old warriors have a lot to tell us still. Thanks for all you do, and for listening to Lucky and having him on your show.

[@texasknight5175]

Red Storm Rising is the Clancy movie that NEEDS to be made...

[@ricomas0365]

A movie wouldn't do it any justice. It would have to be a miniseries. That is true of all his books.

[@visions91]

U.S.S. Nimitz scene should be interesting.

[@wcstrawberryfields8011]

​@@visions91 The decoy barrage followed by the wave of destruction? Oh my...

[@wcstrawberryfields8011]

​@@ricomas0365 Absolutely correct. Otherwise, too compressed. The Eastern Europe offensive, the Iceland gambit and the Atlantic convoy sequence all deserve attentive filmmaking.

[@pb68slab18]

@@ricomas0365 Correct! None of the movies based on Tom Clancy novels were anywhere near as good as the books. I actually read 'The Hunt for Red October' as a Navy P-3 aircrewman flying patrols over the Atlantic and Med, hunting Soviet subs! Everyone in the P-3 ASW community had a copy in their helmet bag!

[@capt.stubing5604]

My neighbor who still fishes with me on my boat marched through Europe with Patton. He will be 102 in April and is 100% the guy I met many years ago but with some physical limitations.

[@XenaBe25]

Amazing. My grandfather served. Unfortunately, the PTSD left him with a bit of a drinking problem that affected his diabetes and cost him his legs. He died in Sunnybrook Hospital 25 years ago. Your friend is one of the lucky ones.

[@wejustsawmanfly]

and he still lives and goes fishing, man, that what life should be about - living reasonably healthy long after retirement and doing your hobbies...

[@normbond8888]

Very interesting Mooch. Thanks.🙏🇨🇦👍

[@matwinter]

Excellent episode, Mooch! Great insights and never heard before details of this incredible US/Russian fire fight! Keep up the great work!

[@timesfly1081]

The Infographics Show made an excellent video about this and animated the entire battle. It was epic

[@jackieboy1593]

Sauce? I can't find any videos by the operations room regarding 2018

[@jonuno]

imagine commenting and not leaving the link...

[@davidg3944]

@@jonuno Links frequently get removed. Better to copy the title so someone can search it.

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

@@jonuno Posting links gets comments removed by KZbin, even links to KZbin.

[@kutter_ttl6786]

Are you sure it was the Operations Room? Looking through their videos, there's nothing on the batte of Kasham. Bunch of other channels covered it, like Task & Purpose, Brothers in Arms, Infographics Show, etc., but nothing on the Operations Room or their sister channel, The Intel Report.

[@ericepperson8409]

One of the greatest international tragedies is how the past and upcoming President abandoned the Kurdish allies in 2019. If we don't continue to support them going forward, it will be necessary to go back there in 2 or 3 years to deal with resurgent ISIS and Iranian backed militias treating Eastern Syria as a training grounds for more terrorists.

[@hoilst265]

"The mountains are our only friends" - old Kurdish saying. At this point, using and abandoning the Kurds is an American tradition. It'll be interesting to see their position in the new Syria, but already Turkiye is attacking them, and I don't think that there's enough capital left in the bank after they got Erdogan to let Sweden into NATO to do anything else.

[@TheCastedone]

We never abandoned them

[@bunkerhousing]

The kurds were dumb to trust the US.

[@bunkerhousing]

@@TheCastedone Usa is the most unthrustworthy ally you can have. The only ally that is worse is the Israelis.

[@lonpfrb]

Op Shader says ISIS are broken, however things change, especially when not enough attention is paid..

[@MikSF123]

Brent Tucker was one of the CAG operators involved with this incident in Syria - he mentions it in a few podcasts but doesn't go into much detail for obvious reasons.

[@LOYALONESTILL]

Great ballsy story and report. Thank God we had real warriors in positions to defend and protect themselves and other assets.

[@MyName-ln6mk]

The only problem is the "assets" are ISIS, El Nursea and Al-queda. Lol

[@JackWaldbewohner]

Commander, a great unclassified sit rep report. I never knew this happened. Well done!

[@DanBaker108]

I was in Syria when this happened. Close enough to hear it and wondered what was going on. We found out the next day after being ready to go all night.

[@peterl3417]

Crazy shit right, what if the Russians used their AA systems? How crazy would the response to that be?

[@NAFO_MythicPlague]

1st the American government told the russians what was going on. Then russia said that Wagner was not apart of the russian forces. That is when the Anti-Aircraft was told to stand down and let the American in. Which they did and then the Americans had the ability to use air power. The standard russian tactic at that time was to make everything look like a training up until the last minute then they would attack. This was not a very well told story. There is an interview from an actual member who was there during the fight. Told by Josh... The best part was the audio footage.

[@lukeknight1133]

where can i find it?

[@ktg8030]

@@lukeknight1133Trust me bro

[@muddobber6863]

It's wild that they totally just threw Wagner under the bus like that.

[@Duckferd]

The person interviewed in this story described the russian doctrine of "training until not" in his written story. Perhaps that is what you're referencing?

[@Duckferd]

@@lukeknight1133 There is the story linked in the description in this video

[@ypaulbrown]

Thank You Commander Carroll

[@longtabsigo]

As a 28 yr SF vet, we call these “DiP/SB” Missions; “Die in Place/Speed Bump” Missions. My team had velcro patches that we would put on for these exact situations. It was a Ticket Shape and read “Admit One” “Halls of Valhalla”! There would be a degree of “gallows’ humor” like “Don’t drink all the f’ing Meade you damm drunkards!” Or “Make sure my mutton is cooked medium because our gooses are gonna be seriously cooked.” Even, “make sure you get all my pieces parts into the bag!” Followed by quotes from movies like “I picked a bad week to quiet qualudes”, or from Patton, “what dumb sunofabitch planned this? I dunno, but they aught a hang him….” My favorite was “if something happens, please clear my browser history!”

[@theimmortal4718]

Oh brother

[@AdrianBoyko]

What does “speed bump” mean in that context?

[@physetermacrocephalus2209]

Using the most expensive and skilled soldiers like that doesn't make sense at face value. Was the idea that you guys would be lost but cause such disproportionate casualties that it would force a pyrrhic victory?

[@theimmortal4718]

@AdrianBoyko What it means is he's one of those guys in the comments

[@AhuizotlXiuh]

@@AdrianBoyko Presumably they're just slowing down whatever adversary is advancing, not meant to stop them.

[@jackallread]

Interesting episode! I remember hearing or seeing something about that fight earlier! I’ll have read his article!! Thanks Ward and Kevin

[@TheeMikeForce]

I like your channel… I really like how the guitars are prominently displayed. Amps, too!

[@Borzoi86]

IMHO: Real guitar players don't use amplifiers.

[@casparcoaster1936]

Most detail Ive ever heard about that night... much obliged!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@scrummydoo]

In the UK we never say we're outnumbered,,,, we are simply entering a target rich enviroment. big up to those American guys, they stood firm.

[@MyName-ln6mk]

They fought for destabilization and failed regime change. They have purposely been turning radical wahabisists loose on Syria since 2011. Learn about the "Arab spring" the "Libyan water project" and how nice Syria was before Washington created isis "moderate rebels" to overthrow Syria. Stop supporting destabilization.

[@nomad7734]

UK... lol

[@JamesBradbury-el3uh]

Uk 😂😂😂

[@josephgriffin2388]

Thank you for the straightforward, unbiased reporting, Ward. You get the greatest guests on your podcast.

[@jpdun]

Awesome episode! Don’t get it mixed up, the QRF was Marine and the other 5th group element. The main force was CAG, Rangers, and 5th group guys. Ranger mortars laid hate to foot personnel.

[@jacobbaughman748]

This was not the first time American Soldiers squared off against Russians! After Armistice Day, in World War I, America put two different task forces ashore in the recently established Soviet Union to support the White Russians against the Red. There are two clasps for the World War I Victory Medal for these troops; one reads "Russia", the other "Siberia".

[@edwardloomis887]

27th Infantry Regiment was one of them. White Russian forces' Admiral Kolchak allegedly spoke highly of the speed with which they moved and compared them to Russian wolfhounds That became their nickname.

[@iAmCompletelyNormal]

We are referring to modern times.

[@MyName-ln6mk]

Russia and Assad were battling ISIS and other radical sunni radicals who started with Libya in 2011.

[@bsimulator]

@@MyName-ln6mk Bot.

[@joythought]

​​@@MyName-ln6mk and Russia and Assad were using chemical weapons and utterly destroying civilian areas. Aleppo??? Russia always has a war crime or ten on its mind.

[@DoradoFever]

Even though most now know the story of Conoco Fields... always love the re-telling and different perspectives.

[@coachwilson5967]

Im surprised the US forces didn't have anti-tank TOW missiles going forward...

[@ericfleming5522]

Speculating a little bit but I wonder if after a decade of fighting a bunch of irregular militias and terrorists maybe some special forces units stopped bringing a meaningful stockpile of TOWs and Javelins with them to fight an adversary that didn't have tanks.

[@user-vr8zs3ei7n]

TOW is an old system that the US doesn't use anymore. Most have been given away to allies and for the Ukrainian war.

[@CptFugu]

TOW-carrying units are specialists, just like Special Forces are. Their kits are vastly different, as are their logistical requirements. Both, Javelins, and TOW's are big and cumbersome beasts. Unless you dedicate a sizeable logistical train to them you can, at best, carry enough reloads for a small engagement. SF tends to use 3-ton light trucks or civilian transport and the nature of their job requires that they pack only the essentials. . In contrast, an Apache can carry 8 to 16 (at least 32 per 4-ship flight) Hellfires that can be lobbed from relative safety, and it can run down anything that crawls on the ground at a pretty good pace. In the case of Special Forces (and light infantry in general), what they can't kill with their organic firepower they kill with their radios. So, before they leave the planning phase the smart ones will have ironed out layers of support to cover the likely contingencies. The ones that don't (there are always some), end up in sad Hollywood movies.

[@Runandgun13]

@@ericfleming5522 tows are usually vehicle mounted on bradleys. We rarely use them on any other vehicles. We usually use Gustav, AT4 some laws, but it's better to just have air support against a column of tanks.I believe carrying javelins is a marine thing.

[@arttrumbo9496]

They probably had Karl Gustav recoiless rifles and AT-4s to defend against armor, but the tanks probably never made it into range of those weapon systems before the apaches and jets destroyed them. They may have also had a javelin which had a longer range.

[@karlscribner3838]

Interesting information, thanks for sharing the story. Lots of great info recently on your channel Ward.

[@tatooinemoor]

Great video! I heard of that story a few months ago, but couldn't get details about it... amazing story!

[@WardCarroll]

Thank you!

[@VarroTigurius-u1f]

Russia absolutley hopeing that the US forces would be afraid to escalate and would just abandon the positions.. A little bit of self projection there. I love that we didnt blink and went ahead a decimated the forces in response.

[@owensomers8572]

I think the assumption on the part of Wagner and SAA was that there was only a Free Syrian Army presence at the site. Had there been no tier one personnel, it is my guess the QRF of 5 SFG(A) and Kurds would not have responded.

[@blakebrown534]

Russia was definitely seeing how far they could push the line and were using Wagner to do it. Glad they found out the hard way.

[@VarroTigurius-u1f]

@@owensomers8572 They 100% knew.. the line of deconfliction was well known and agreed upon. Go back to 7:00 in the video. This was entirely assad forces hoping to bully their way to take control of the oil field.

[@ecleveland1]

American soldiers don’t run from a fight especially Delta Force or our other Special Forces. Just how bad of luck did the Russians soldiers have to pick a fight with American soldiers in the first place but they turn out to be Delta Force and ORF Special Forces! It’s like Waldo picking a fight with Mike Tyson in his prime, it’s not going to end well for Waldo.

[@Duckferd]

It's hard to say whether that was true or just mere incompetence with the pro-Syrians simply not being told that there were American forces present and assuming it's just a group of rebels. Certainly the Russian higher ups abandoned their own troops once the Americans started phoning them asking the Russians to stand down ('what russians? We're not there')

[@tbird3685]

Crazy to think I played DCS with this guy, cool stuff.

[@RichPober]

Excellent interview ... 👍

[@Mr.Smith.C.R]

Excellent! Love these interviews. Thank you

[@jacoblozano5040]

I remember that event…. Great story! Keep the great videos coming!

[@humanbass]

Can we debunk the myth of Russia is capable of starting a world war right now? Because Finland could match in St Petersburg and there is little Russia could given they diverting all their resources to Ukraine. They have asked for North Korea support, this isnt a super power able to wage a world war

[@yolkiandeji7649]

He mentioned that the Russians were not allowed to use anti-air. I think any military force would end up with similar results under that restriction.

[@jmcw9632]

Russia was not about to shoot down US jets for Leroy Jenkins Wagner

[@fademusic1980]

Russia knew their anti air systems would meet the same fate if they opened fire on the US

[@yolkiandeji7649]

@ But if it was the other way around things would be different?

[@VarroTigurius-u1f]

@@yolkiandeji7649 US have shot down Russian/Syrian air forces when they threatened US forces.

[@blakebrown534]

@@yolkiandeji7649 We wouldn't be using a mercenary force to attack Russian positions and telling those mercenaries that they have air cover from the US government and then turn off that air defense without telling the mercenaries

[@VnazT]

This subject never gets old.

[@teddy.d174]

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched videos in regard to this story and still, it never gets old. The reach of American power knows no limits and this was a magnificent display of said power. Brilliant interview Ward, thank you sir. 🫡 🇺🇸

[@stevejordan7428]

Thanks!

[@WardCarroll]

Thanks for the support!

[@neilwilliams5173]

That is an unbelievable story that i have never heard thank you guys for sharing it with us all

[@GrungeHistory]

Is there any combat footage?

[@rferguson3719]

Makes no sense to me that they would move on the US forces’ position at night without night vision. And no MANPADS...Surely the only explanation could be bad intel on their part, not realizing who was defending the refinery, but even that seems unlikely if there were MRAPs parked there

[@owensomers8572]

MRAPs showed up as part of the QRF, after the assault had begun.

[@rferguson3719]

@@owensomers8572 gotcha. Bad intel seems to make sense then

[@jerseyshoredroneservices225]

They were aware of each other for at least several days. The bad guys knew who they were attacking

[@blakebrown534]

@@rferguson3719 No they were 100% aware they were Americans. This was Russia trying to push the line to see how far we might let it bend

[@CptFugu]

That's what happens when you plan with your balls instead of your brain. It hurts you more than it hurts the enemy.

[@javier-ro2yg]

There are intercepted calls between Wagner Group trying to get Russia to support them with air power. They are also other calls intercepted after the fact where Wagner survivors who talked about the total annihilation of these group of Wagner and Syrian fighters. how they were left to die by the embassy in Damascus because they didn't want to get into an air war with Americans because the generals there knew that even the best Russian jets were no match to American air power. So instead of losing an air war battle and making the Russian army and air force look bad to everyone across the world. They were sacrificed.

[@buddah_stick]

You could argue the Russian pilots were saved.

[@angryktulhu]

Correct to some extent but they didn’t get the support because Russian military did want the Wagner group dead. They had issues with Prigozhin gaining more and more power

[@robertfoster1339]

That video with Lucky was amazing. This one also. I’m admiring your music gear in the background, pretty hard to go wrong with an SG though a Marshal

[@CashedoutLookingup]

been wanting the deep story on this for a long time, awesome!

[@RynOstate]

Wait... I was told we don't have any troops in combat zones?

[@xxpoisonblxx]

History lesson here, not current situation. Battle of Khasham/Battle of Conoco Fields was on 7 February 2018.

[@208flatheads3]

They had f15s and f22's up there how in the world would that bomber even make it anywhere near them?

[@LillyRocket]

Easy, nobody would fire upon a russian bomber until it actually starts dropping something. But its a moot point because for the same reason the russian state would not use its military to engage US troops - that is what they had Wagner for. By the way the same reason why the US used the likes of Blackwater. Its one thing using a private army to do stupid and bad things, its entirely different when you use state actors.

[@tom.m]

​@@LillyRocket Blackwater certainly had issues, but it was not used the same way Wagner was. At all.

[@LillyRocket]

@@tom.m you missed the point entirely. I was speaking to the *reason* of having a private army do your dirty work, not the methods they applied. It all boils down to plausible deniability and when it goes south, you dont have to explain it to your voters.

[@colinhobbs7265]

​@@LillyRocketincorrect, the US does it to save on personnel costs, specifically relating to benefits.

[@tom.m]

@@LillyRocket That's not accurate though. US PMC use started as a way to fill gaps in security forces with the private sector and got out of hand. Wagner was state funded and equipped specifically for use as a proxy force without accountability. And was deployed as such. Both have plenty to criticize, but they're very different.

[@slartybarfastb3648]

I've heard so many versions of this story. The one I lend most credibilty to comes from the US commander for the counter-ISIS operation. He said command knew for days Wagner was planning to attack. He repeatedly warned his Russian counterpart who repeatedly denied any Russian presence in the area. The US commander had strike packages preplanned waiting for the order to go. The Marines were standing by with M777 and HiMARS. The Russians were intentionally not hit until they all had crossed the Euphrates. They fell into the trap as the US commander had hoped they would. I don't recall his account having any concern about Russian air defense. I think the delay in air strikes was to intentionally draw the entire attacking force into the kill box.

[@Duckferd]

I would trust the first hand accounts being relayed here, in the article by the author (linked in the video description) as well as the New York Times article from back in 2018. They all corroborate the same story. I also don't think that a group of 40 soldiers with light weapons would just risk their lives "setting a trap" against almost 500 men and an array of armored vehicles and artillery. Why would air support require a "kill box" against ground vehicles? I don't think that "baiting" fellow soldiers is a very popular move in the US armed forces, just to give air assets an easier time to pick off targets.

[@OldMan_PJ]

What wasn't mentioned in this interview but was mentioned in the recording of the call by the head of Wagner was the Americans using artillery on them. There's definitely more to the story not being told.

[@ScrappyXFL]

@@OldMan_PJ 🎯40 men firing artillery with M2s held them at bay for hours.................

[@Handcannon77]

Never heard this version of the battle of Kasham in the years since, it also just doesnt really make much sense. Why would US CENTCOM ever use a Delta team effectively as "bait", and allow them to be massively outmanned and outgunned and be shelled by tanks for multiple hours..? If strike packages were already preplanned and this was effectively a trap, why did it take close to 2 hours for air assets to show up on station? Because the reason for delaying(potentially, and unnecessarily risking the lives of the entire delta team) being that they wanted to draw the entire force into the "kill box" makes absolutely no sense when were talking about apaches and close air support taking out tanks...theyre already sitting ducks no matter what, waiting for the tanks to lineup in formation only serves to reduce the number of rounds needed to decimate them, and that 100% is of no concern.

[@slartybarfastb3648]

@@ScrappyXFL Does that make any sense to you? M2s on a few MRAPs against 10 T-72s. Did you hear the Russian's account of the battle? "They started with artillery..." The Marines were firing M777 and HiMARS from their position nearby. "Then helicopters and jets". It wasn't only Delta and the QRF. The SDF was also on the line numbering much higher than the Americans. Russian/Syrian casualties were so high and US casualties so low because it was a preplannes kill zone, turned into 'kill box' for artillery, aviation and air force. Fair game in the box for anything that moved, away from the city where the attack originated.

[@repetitivemotion]

What amps do you have on those 2 x 12’s? I see the Marshall but which one? What about the cabinets?

[@WardCarroll]

JCM 800 Studio 20 and Mesa Boogie MkV25. Greenbacks in the left one and whatever comes in the standard 2x12 slant cab that matches the Studio 20.

[@repetitivemotion]

@ the JCM 800, is it 100 watts or 20? I checked Sweetwater and I only see the JCM 800 as a 100 watt head

[@777Singingman]

Great story friends. Love your Marshalls and SG and Les Paul.

[@Mavrick121]

I got a buddy who was at this. Guy named Matt. 81mm Mortarman with 7th Marines, but they might’ve been firing 120’s at the time, I don’t know. We went to high school together and he joined a year before me. Long story short he ends up in Syria putting warheads on foreheads meanwhile Feb 2018 I’m in fking Japan getting ripped on Red Horse at the base of Mt. Fuji. Lol, some guys have all the luck. Thanks for the vid Mooch. Semper

[@n.s.raleigh4162]

Please tell me you are working on the screenplay…what an incredible story!

[@ecleveland1]

Syria is another place American soldiers shouldn’t be IMO. Every regime change we’ve been a part of in the Middle East has left a power vacuum and has turned into a mess. Personally I just don’t like our soldiers fighting in someone else’s war and getting killed or wounded.

[@seitengewehr98]

I understand, but first off American (and other) forces in the region are not there to facilitate a regime change, but to destroy ISIS (who one could argue was a result of our actions in the middle east, thus making them our responsibility) and provide support to our allies. Make no mistake, we in the US profit from regional stability and support of our allies (primarily in the form of trade, but not exclusively), and given regional instability that may result in an ally where the was once a foe, we must consider if the risk of involvement is worth the reward. You think Russia's there too on some altruistic mission? No! They too want to profit from having allies in the region, that is why they are doing everything in their power to expand their influence (sadly often through military action) while pushing the narrative that America withdrawing from the world stage would somehow be in our best interests. We should NEVER adopt an isolationist policy in these matters, and the moment we do I promise you will signal the end of America as a world power, and we will all suffer for it. What we should do instead is learn from past mistakes, and lend support to allies where there is broad, pluralistic backing for our involvement by the populous of the allies in question, as opposed to propping up an unpopular or oppressive leader of a nation simply because it would appear to profit us in the short term (think Cuba or Iran). That is why our actions against ISIS (clearly our enemy and highly destabilizing) and our support of Kurdish forces (for which we have their total support) make sense. I say all of this as a combat infantry veteran myself. I have been the life our nations has put at risk for such things, so it's not as if I'm supporting something that hasn't directly involved me here. I can understand that the benefits we receive from such actions may seem nebulous and difficult to quantify, and it would be nice if we could easily point to some immediate benefit tangible to the average US citizen, but the benefits do indeed exist (just consider how much we gained from discarding our isolationist stance and becoming involved after WW2). The absolute best instances that call for our actions are those that would help remove a truly oppressive and destabilizing power while simultaneously profiting from the allies that result from our involvement.

[@andreahighsides7756]

Power vacuums and turning the region into a mess is the entire point.

[@seitengewehr98]

@@andreahighsides7756 Oh nonsense. I get that maybe you think that sounds edgy and clever but it makes no sense whatsoever. We don't benefit from constant regional instability and conflict, we benefit from trade and partnerships with new allies. If all we wanted to do was create chaos we would've just bombed the crap out of places and not spent years and years genuinely trying to rebuild them.

[@kingofshrimp]

is that a ‘61 Gibson SG? which one do you like better, the les paul or the sg?

[@TheGalah-z3k]

Another great episode Ward. Really enjoyed the material you produce on your channel.

[@Gunga-ct9nz]

The Wagner commentor mentioned the effect the USMC artillery had on the hostile attacking forces but Mr Maurer ignored the fact that USMC artillery played a large role in saving the SF outpost at the Conoco facility.

[@Iceberg86300]

Yeah that *_really_* stuck out. Calls everything else into question with the exception of the very high level end result of US smacking someone around in Syria.

[@LRRPFco52]

F-22As, F-15Es, MQ-9s, and other USAF air assets were the main ordnance deliverers in the CENTCOM channels at the time. Learned about it right when it happened. It's one of my most deleted comments and has been for over 6 years.

[@tomwilson1006]

Brent Tucker (former Delta operator) of The Anti-Hero Podcast was there. He’s mentioned this fight a few times briefly, and will be speaking in the near future more in-depth.

[@ColKurtzknew]

Anyone watching mainstream media at the time remember such in depth reporting? This is an amazingly detailed historical account of US Tier 1 assets.engaged with both Syrian and Russian forces.

[@colindeer4908]

Thanks a lot Ward, as always, a great report sir. Merry Christmas to you and your wife. From us here in a stormy Cairns 😊

[@WardCarroll]

Thanks! Merry Christmas to you, too.

[@JohnLeaman-un4rh]

Great report Ward. WAR is HELL

[@flhxri]

The Russians were testing the waters to see if the US would react.

[@andyking957]

there were no russian troups there (as russians say) - only some Wagner mercenaries never ever sent there by official Russia. So what could they do - acknowledge massive unlawfull covert ops or just throw the mercenaries under the bus - they chosed the latter. Not even near to WWIII.

[@adrianlang6550]

Where was the bus? And why are people always being thrown under it? 😂😂😂

[@Oldsmobility455]

The only unlawful covert ops occurring, were the US special forces inside of Syria. Russia and Wagner were both requested by the Syrian government.

[@softwarephil1709]

Picture of Kevin and ME (not I)

[@joestevenson5526]

I met Lucky Luckadoo at the World War Two Museum once and have a copy of Damn Lucky. Great man and a great book.

[@robertswertfager6778]

Great work to bring this story out into the open!!

[@spacecatboy2962]

I guess if the base had been held by navy seals, they would have ran away from the Russians without firing a shot. Then later a Hollywood movie would have been made about how the navy seals fired every round fighting in a blaze of red white and blue glory.

[@restaurantattheendofthegalaxy]

In 2019 I was really sick with stage 4 cancer and the treatments for it. I heard about this engagement and for once I thought that here's some good news, made my day. - former ARTY FSO

[@crazyyoda8721]

Best assessment on this incident

[@mala-koza6059]

Another great interview, thank you.

[@Emanemoston]

Thank you for the video, sir.

[@ronin18D]

FYI Mr Maurer... "Blackwater" did not work independently... Blackwater was NOT a mercenary group. They were contracted by the Department of State and in some cases DOD and there were rules of engagement to abide by. Please have the correct facts and not conjecture.

[@seitengewehr98]

Yeah, I was actually there in Iraq in the infantry back in '04-'05, and they were NOTORIOUS for acting like cowboys and often creating dangerous situations for our regular forces, and though I don't believe they were nearly as bad as Wagner, they became a genuine liability. There were many instances of their employees totally ignoring ROE, and it was a mess we had to clean up. And I'm not sure you understand what a mercenary force is: They are a military force that operates through contractual agreement and financial incentive, including contracts with the State Dept or others, as you mentioned.

[@justanotherdayinwherever]

Did they know they were going up against Americans with night vision?

[@jmcw9632]

The commanders did.

[@themiddle8979]

I’ve been trying to share this unknown battle that shows Russia why it’s better to be friends. The American way. Not the Tucker save Putin way.

[@Astorath_the_Grim]

Americans are the ones pushing for war with Russia

[@brianv1988]

I really hope they released the footage of the whole operation do you know if there's any footage out there of this

[@WardCarroll]

Yes. Stay tuned.

[@justachipn3039]

Love these stories, Thx Guys !!! *Merry Christmas* 🌲

[@machinech183]

Ward I didn't think you needed to clickbait quite that hard for views. A 2018 in the title, given the current climate, would have been nice. Appreciate all you do but just didn't think you needed to stretch that hard for views. I suppose I could be wrong.

[@WardCarroll]

Yeah, you’re wrong.

[@paulsaulpaul]

Agree. I thought it was a current event, but it's analysis from years ago. But it looks like we're "wrong". Such contempt for his viewers. My middle finger flips right back at him.

[@Astorath_the_Grim]

@@WardCarroll no he's right. This was 6 years ago.