Terrorist and insurgent teleoperated sniper rifles and. Syrian army colonel defects, forms free syrian army, asharq al. Jul 29, 2011 the free syrian army arabic language, aljaysh assuri al. Ap photomanu brabo even homemade armored vehicles can be improvised like this sham 1 example. The branches of the syrian armed forces that have committed war crimes include at least the syrian arab army, syrian arab air force and the syrian military intelligence. Reuterszain karam with proper machining skills, even homemade missiles like this one. It was the great hope of the rebels, who believed that with sufficient funding and weapons from arab and western states it could bring down bashar assads army.
Continuing violence in northern syria between government forces and rebels is putting plans for a unbrokered ceasefire in jeopardy. Large equipment like tanks and vehicles are generally captured from syrian army supplies, but small arms are likely a mixture of captured syrian army weapons, weapons imported by foreign combatants joining the opposition forces, or other sources. Large equipment like tanks and vehicles are generally captured from syrian army. Oct 28, 2011 october 27, 2011 turkeys support of the free syrian army, an armed opposition group, comes amid a broader turkish campaign to undermine president bashar alassads government in syria. Defected soldiers formed free syrian army antigovernment forces in syria known as the free syrian army have gained ground against the regime of. They consist of the syrian arab army, syrian arab air force, syrian arab navy, syrian arab air defense force, and several paramilitary forces, such as the national defence force.
Syrian rebels use improvised weapons photos business insider. The armys improvised munitions handbook tells you how to make things like remotely fired mortar tubes, a shotgun, and even improvised explosive devices from supplies and trash. Absolutely theyre identical twins and work hand in hand to achieve the same goal. The free syrian army fsa is now engaged in combat in at least six of the countrys fourteen governorates, inflicting greater losses on regime personnel and equipment than at any time since its involvement in the uprising began.
Free syrian army in aleppo in pictures world news the. Army fighter spray paints on improvised mortar shells at a weapon. Rebels have responded with the improvised weapons called hell cannons. A man works on an improvised mortar shell for the free syrian army inside a factory which previously manufactured steel and iron in aleppo, on february 18, 20. Jul 19, 2016 rebels have responded with the improvised weapons called hell cannons. A free syrian army fighter uses a catapult to fire a homemade grenade. Syrian rebels homemade weapons are getting bigger quartz. Turkey shelters antiassad group, the free syrian army. Sanctions have reportedly led to shortages in basic foodstuffs. Free syrian army improvised grenade launcher design. List of military equipment used by syrian opposition forces wikipedia.
Syrian rebel fighters stand around a cache of homemade missiles in aleppo. Fighters from the free syrian armys tahrir al sham brigade use a shotgun to fire an improvised grenade at syrian army soldiers in the arabeen neigbourhood of damascus february 9, 20. Diy weapons of the syrian rebels in focus the atlantic. List of military equipment used by syrian opposition forces. Theres also been speculation whether the free syrian army is now sporting deadly shoulderlaunched antiaircraft missiles, or manpads. Composed of defected syrian armed forces personnel and volunteers, its formation was announced on 29 july 2011 in a video released on the internet by a uniformed group of deserters from the. A shotgun shell appears to act as the propellent charge and a spring loaded striker is cocked from the rear to arm. The free syrian army fsa was at the forefront of using improvised weaponry for the better part of 20based on what is, still available on social media.
Fighters from the free syrian army s tahrir al sham brigade use a shotgun to fire an improvised grenade at syrian army soldiers in the arabeen neigbourhood of damascus february 9, 20. But other rebel groups as well as islamic state and. Louay almokdad, the political and media coordinator for the free syrian army, confirmed that the rebels have procured new weapons donated from outside syria, rather than bought on the black. Nowhere is this more apparent than in aleppo, syrias largest city where many fsa soldiers are leaving the group, citing. Jan 29, 2016 whenever we, the free syrian army, make advances against the regime, isis steps in fri 29 jan 2016 08.
Member of the free syrian army use a slingshot to launch a homemade bomb. Improvised rocket launchers, 80mmlauncherbateyhaosef 1. Emre peker and donna abunasr, syrian armed forces desertion said to surge to 60,000, bloomberg, march 15, 2012. Battling the assad government without proper arms or munitions makes a hard struggle even harder for the free syrian army. October 27, 2011 turkeys support of the free syrian army, an armed opposition group, comes amid a broader turkish campaign to undermine president bashar alassads government in syria. The free syrian army bleeds the assad regime the washington. So theyve started to craft their own weapons to take on the military. Faces of the free syrian army war is boring medium. Apr 14, 2017 the remaining 10 were said to be fighters belonging to the independent free syrian army brigade known as jaysh alsunnah. Drawing on expert analysis of thousands of videos and images, this report catalogues the array of weapons, ammunition and. Ultimately, even if the smc only serves as a mechanism for greater cooperation and coordination, it is a significant development in that it has united the efforts of rebel commanders across syria. Tm 31120 is an actual army guide to making weapons at home. The free syrian army follows orders from turkey middle.
The free syrian army, a group of mostly former syrian military soldiers fighting against the authoritarian regime of syrian president bashar assad, received the training from the u. In the syrian civil war, improvised weaponry, vehicles, and. The free syrian army on the local level engages and ambushes the states shabiha militia and confronts the army during which it encourages defections. According to the syrian constitution, the president of syria is. The growing free syrian army, the armed wing of the popular rebellion, is playing an increasing role in determining the assad regimes future. Al jazeeras omar alsaleh reports exclusively on how syrians are turning ordinary items into ammunition.
A fighter from the free syrian army s tahrir alsham brigade looks at an improvised shotgun, used to fire improvised grenades, in the arabeen neighborhood of damascus on february 9, 20. The free syrian army fsa was at the forefront of using improvised weaponry for the better part of 20, based on what is still available on social media. Al jazeera reports that the free syrian army, a network of mostly former syrian military soldiers primarily focused on fighting the authoritarian regime of syrian dictator bashar alassad, has seen its power wane dramatically this year amid widespread desertions. Tm 31120 is an actual army guide to making weapons at. The free syrian army fsa is now engaged in combat in at least six of the countrys fourteen governorates, inflicting greater losses on regime personnel and equipment than at any time since its. This entry was posted in rocket and grenade launchers and tagged free syrian army, hombuilt rocket launcher, homemade bazooka, homemade firearms, homemade grenade launcher, homemade mortar, improvised weapons on october 12, 2014 by improguns. The helicopters remain fairly high i estimate the altitude of the video below at about 10,000 feet to remain above the effective altitude of the antiaircraft artillery and shoulderfired surfacetoair missiles in the hands of the free syrian army. The free syrian army follows orders from turkey middle east.
Apr 11, 2012 continuing violence in northern syria between government forces and rebels is putting plans for a unbrokered ceasefire in jeopardy. An improvised armored vehicle is seen parked as free syrian army fighters gather on a street in the refugee camp of yarmouk near damascus, may 20. A member of the free syrian army stands guard at a checkpoint after. The free syrian army, which at one point was the main fighting force against assads regime, is a collection of smaller government opposition. The most common grenade used by the free syrian army and other rebel groups. Member of harakat ahrar alsham alislamiyya practicing with a weapon. Jul 20, 2012 defected soldiers formed free syrian army antigovernment forces in syria known as the free syrian army have gained ground against the regime of president bashar assad.
A formal organization at its founding, its structure gradually dissipated by late 2012, and the fsa. The army s improvised munitions handbook tells you how to make things like remotely fired mortar tubes, a shotgun, and even improvised explosive devices from supplies and trash. The following months saw increasing defections of syrian army officers, which eventually led to the establishment of the free syrian army fsa, under the command of defected col. Some kind of a home made missile made by syrian rebels. Free syrian army fighters launch a homemade bomb using. In the syrian civil war, improvised weaponry, vehicles. This is an actual army guide to creating an entire arsenal were not talking how to drive a nail through a board or fold a newspaper into a shank. Photo by hamid khatibreuters a rebel army officer works on a weapon captured from forces loyal to libyan leader muammar elqaddafi, at a workshop in benghazi, on june 1, 2011. Jun 29, 2016 absolutely theyre identical twins and work hand in hand to achieve the same goal. Jul, 2017 free syrian army has the worlds support but no weapons or ammo. Syrian rebels posted a video showing their improvised weapon. As discussed above, syrian factions often find it hard to acquire and operate purposebuilt armored vehicles. The free syrian army fsa was formed in august 2011 by army deserters based in turkey, led by col riad alasaad. Battling the assad government without proper arms or munitions makes a hard struggle even harder for.
Its banner was soon adopted by armed groups that began appearing across the country. Although numerous armed factions that were active across syria soon. Both its ranks and its popular support are growing, and its forces have the types of weapons they need for. Analysis of weapons and ammunition captured from islamic state forces in ira and syria islamic state weapons in iraq and syria case 3. However the syrian authorities deny these accusations 29 and claim that irregular armed groups with foreign support 30 31 are behind the atrocities, including al qaeda.
March 20 elizabeth obagy middle east security report. These include funding by private donors notably from the gulf region. This free syrian army fighter is firing an antiaircraft machine gun against a syrian army jet in the saif aldula district. Dec, 20 the free syrian army fsa was formed in august 2011 by army deserters based in turkey, led by col riad alasaad. A man works on an improvised mortar shell for the free syrian army. Sep 28, 20 a former syrian army draftee, he already knew how to use heavy weapons including 14.
A member of the free men of syria ahrar suriya brigade, operating under the free syrian army, works to make improvised weapons as homemade rockets are seen in the foreground at a factory in aleppo countryside august 26, 20. List of military equipment used by syrian opposition forces in the syrian civil war. A prominent member of the free syrian army claims the rebels have all the components to produce chemical weapons and have the knowhow to put them together and use if necessary. Small arms documented in northwestern iraq contd three us m16a4 5. Free syrian army has the worlds support but no weapons or ammo.
Improvised and craftproduced small small arms survey. But other rebel groups as well as islamic state and al qaeda affiliates caught on to the trend quickly. In these weapons workshops, antiaircraft guns are welded to pickup trucks and. Assad strikes oil deal to keep war machine moving wired. The democratic forces only include units focused on fighting isis, excluding fsa fighters. Whenever we, the free syrian army, make advances against the regime, isis steps in fri 29 jan 2016 08.
An improvised shoulder fired mortar grenade launcher built by fsa armorers. Some members of the free syrian army have stated that the organization does not have the resources to occupy and take control of territories, and instead relies primarily on hit and run attacks to prompt the syrian army into withdrawing. Unfortunately i will have to come back to turkey again. Free syrian army claims chemical weapons capability rt. Oct 28, 2016 an improvised armored vehicle is seen parked as free syrian army fighters gather on a street in the refugee camp of yarmouk near damascus, may 20. Image 47 a free syrian army fighter uses an improvised cuptype rifle. One of the brigades main bases was apparently destroyed. In addition to svbieds, syrian factions use many improvised armored vehicles whose task is protection, not selfdestruction. Nov 26, 2016 the free syrian army began with a core group of senior officers who defected from the syrian army and recruited thousands of soldiers and civilians. Technicals can help fill this gap, but since they are unarmored, technicals are vulnerable to gunfire. A fighter from the free syrian armys tahrir alsham brigade looks at an improvised shotgun, used to fire improvised grenades, in the arabeen neighborhood of damascus on february 9, 20. A former syrian army draftee, he already knew how to use heavy weapons including 14.