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How Prigozhin Used A 2018 US-Russia Battle In Syria To Justify His Mutiny

ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA - JUNE 24: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - "WAGNER / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) A screen grab captured from a video ... ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA - JUNE 24: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - "WAGNER / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) A screen grab captured from a video shows Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin (2nd L) after Headquarters of the Southern Military District surrounded by fighters of the paramilitary Wagner group in Rostov-on-Don, Russia on June 24, 2023. (Photo by Wagner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) MORE LESS

July 4, 2023 9:00 a.m.

Before Yevgeny Prigozhin launched his bizarre mutiny (or coup attempt?) last week, he cited a litany of grievances he had against Russia’s Ministry of Defense.

At the top of the list was a little-known but significant battle in Syria, between Russian forces and the United States — the only time open conflict erupted between militaries under the command of the two powers in many years.

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