Thanks to a regular reader for highlighting this video from a couple of weeks ago showing a collection of unexploded ordnance (UXO)
There's several items on show, including what I believe is the remains of an IRAM (improvised rocket assisted mortar/muntion), but what's very interesting is the warhead resting on the ground
During the video there's a very clear shot of a metal plate that shows the designation of the warhead
It reads "9 ГЖ 606M", which is the warhead of the S-25-OFM, a variant of the S-25 rocket, an air-to-ground rocket designed to attack hardened targets.
This is the first time I can recall the remains of one of these rockets being recovered in the conflict, and possibly the first evidence of their introduction into the conflict. It's also the largest air-to-ground unguided rocket of the conflict used so far.
As I've frequently said in the past it's generally a very bad idea to pick up UXO (unexploded ordnance) unless you are trained to do so, but as anyone who follows Syria knows this is advice that's rarely followed. This following video shows a collection of UXO, some of which has been converted into IEDs (improved explosive devices)
Colonel Abu Hasan of Sawt Al-Haq Battalion, Jund Allah Brigade provides us with a guided tour of the items on show
First we have an OFAB 100-120, which Colonel Hasan incorrectly describes as "a vacuum bomb that can destroy an area of 500 meters". An OFAB 100-120 is a high explosive fragmentation bomb, and first appeared in Syria when jets first started bombing Aleppo in late July 2012.
Next what I believe is the front end of a parachute retarded bomb, which Colonel Hasan describes as a "guided rocket that is fired by a fighter plane".
Next we have a collection of unexploded PTAB 2.5m cluster bomb submunitions, correctly identified by Colonel Hasan.
Next Colonel Hasan shows us what he calls "katyusha rockets", which are in fact S-8KO rockets, normally launcher from aircraft. You can see the designation written on the rocket in the above picture.
From left to right we have the tail of a 122mm rocket, an artillery round, the tip of an artillery or tank round, and a mortar tail fin.
Here we have what Colonel Hasan correctly identifies as 122mm Sakr cluster rockets, with a box full of submunitions to the right. As he notes later in the video the colourful ribbons of the submunitions are very appealing to any child who might come across them. It's also interesting to note other versions of these submunitions that have been seen in Syria so far have come with white ribbons. The ribbons are attached to the arming pin, so pulling a ribbon can result in a live munition arming, and detonating.
Next we have some IEDs they've put together using UXO.
These cluster bomb submunitions have had an fuze added to them, turning them into pipebombs.
Here the OFAB 100-120 shown earlier has had it's fuze replaced with an electrical detonator, which allows them to set it off remotely.
These are 4 cluster bomb tails that have been filled with explosives and turned into IEDs.
The following video has been posted by activists in the city of Raqqa, showing the remains of a badly damaged missile (thanks to Mads Dahl)
Fortunately there's enough of the missile to come up with an ID, most of which comes from the tail end. First take a look at the following features on the video and two reference images of a Scud-B missile engine
On the second item note the protruding feature on the outer edge
Also compare the details I've highlighted on the tail fin in the video with the two reference images
It's also worth noting the ridge filmed on one side of the missile, which is also a feature of Scud-B missiles
While this is strong evidence that the remains belong to a Scud-B missile it's harder to be sure if it's actually been fired, especially as there's been evidence of an apparently abandoned Scud-B missile in the Deir Ez Zor region. There appears to be very little evidence of impact, although there only appears to be part of the missile in the area, so the initial impact may have occurred elsewhere, and judging by the dark marks on the ground it's likely the wreckage was burning at some point.
Over the past 6 months vast numbers of cluster bombs have been dropped by the Syrian Air Force across Syria, leaving a massive long term UXO hazard for the citizens of Syria whoever the victor in the conflict may be. This presents tremendous problems for civilians caught up in these attacks, and as this following video shows attempts to dispose of them leaves something to be desired
Enter Jabhat al-Nusra, who in a recent massive bombing campaign in Palmyra, 120km east of Homs used a variety of UXO in the construction of their bombs, including at least 30 unexploded PTAB 2.5m cluster bomblets, shown below
Jabhat al-Nusra claim in their statement to have used multiple vehicles loaded with around 3 tonnes of explosives each, much of which appears to be unexploded ordnance. This is not the first time they've done this, with a previous truck bomb using at least 2 unexploded FAB 500 M62 high explosive bombs, but this is the first time I'm aware of cluster bomblets being used as part of a VBIED.
As a slight aside, in this picture we see a bomb I've as yet been unable to identify
At the back of the picture appears to be a bomb I've recently come across in this video, but as yet I've been unable to identify it
This was filmed near Meng Air Base in the Aleppo region, a few hundred kilometers away from the Jabhat al-Nusra attack, so it's highly unlikely it's the same piece of UXO, so if anyone has a clue what this could be please let me know.
Warning and information posters in Arabic and English for the types of unexploded cluster bombs found in Syria can be found on the website of the RRMA (Responsible Researchers of Munitions and Arms) here.
As I've written about in the past videos showing the handling of UXO (unexploded ordnance) have been frequently uploaded to Youtube by activists in Syria, with great risk to everyone in the video. For example, in this recent video from a village in the Hama region of Syria shows the cluster bomblets from an Egyptian Saqr 122mm rocket, launched from BM-21 Grads, being handled and shown to the camera
On the same channel we have a video of a man who tried to pull one of the Saqr bomblets out of the ground by pulling at the ribbon attached to the bomblet, which caused it to explode, destroying both his hands and killing him
Cluster bomblets used in the Saqr rockets have a very different arming mechanism from the bomblets used in the RBK cluster bombs dropped by aircraft in Syria. The ribbon each one is attached to is connected to the arming pin, and when the bomblet is dispersed the ribbon stabilises the bomblet and arms the bomblet as it falls through the air by pulling the pin into the armed position. The problem is, if the bomblet doesn't disperse correctly and the ribbon doesn't have chance to pull the pin, the bomblet is not activated, but still very likely to go off if the ribbon is pulled. Think of it as a hand grenade pin, as soon as it's remove the munition is going to go off, and this is likely what cost the man in the above video his life. It's very unlikely the people handling these unexploded munitions know how the arming mechanism relates to the ribbon, so they are taking huge risks handling these submunitions, as the above video clearly demonstrates.
The RRMA (Responsible Reseachers for Arms and Munitions) has put together a number of safety posters in English and Arabic with details of some of the cluster submunitions commonly sighted in Syria, and videos of other examples of Saqr rockets seen in Syria can be found here.
While I always attempt to identify the weapons and munitions sent to me sometimes I get stumped, and these following videos are two examples of weapons that I've been unable to identify.
This first item, supposedly dropped from a MiG, shows what appears to be a tail section from an unguided bomb. To me it appears to be just he tail section of a bomb, and appears to be unusually thin, with massive tail fins, suggesting the bomb would be much longer than what we can see in the photograph. The tail fins are also missing the ring that's common in many of the other bombs used so far in the conflict (which can be seen here), and having reviewed a large number of Soviet and Russian bombs (commonly used by the Syrian Air Force) I've been unable to find a match.
This second video from Daraya, near Damascus, shows what may be some type of rocket. The fixed tail fins and tail ring would suggest it was not a tube launched rocket, such as those used by the BM-21 Grad, and I've yet to see any rockets or bombs used in the conflict with those square tail fins.
As I'm totally stumped (along with many other arms researchers I've spoken to) I'm asking if any of you recognise these devices. If you have an idea what these could be leave a comment below, or send me a Tweet or email at the usual places.
Over the past months we've seen an escalation in the air war in Syria, with helicopters being joined by L-39 and MiG jets, and an increasing variety of weapons being deployed by the Syrian Air Force. By examining the various UXO (Unexploded ordnance) filmed by opposition activists in Syria we can see which weapons are being used by the Syrian Air Force, and get an idea of the quantities being used.
S-5 Rockets
One of the most widely used weapons by the Syrian Air Force is the S-5 rocket, used from the earliest days of the air war, and capable of being used by both helicopters and jets. They also featured heavily in the Libyan Civil War, generally fired from rocket pods welded to the backs of pick up trucks.
They have a very distinctive long thin body, usually a light metallic colour, with black stabliser fins at the rear. The actual explosive charge it only at the very end of the missile, the rest of the body being used to hold propellant. As the above videos demonstrates large numbers of rockets have been used across Syria.
AT-2 Swatters
AT-2 Swatter/3M11 Fleyta anti-tank missile have made rare appearances, the above example being from December 2012, around the same time their was a significant rise in the use of armour by the Syrian opposition. Unlike the other bombs and missiles on this page the AT-2 has an in-built guidance system, the remains of which can be seen in the above video.
OFABs
OFABs are Russian made general purpose bombs (classified as fragmentation/blast bombs in Russia) designed for attacking lightly armoured vehicles, non-fortified structures, and personnel in the field. The first OFABs to be identified as UXO in Syria were the larger OFAB 250-270 bombs
In August, around the same time as L-39s started being used in Aleppo and elsewhere, we began to see evidence of OFAB 100-120 bombs
It's interesting to note that since L-39s were first spotted in Aleppo I've collected around 30 examples of unexploded or partly exploded OFAB 100-120 bombs, compared to a handful of all other bomb types in the same period. This strongly suggests that OFAB 100-120 bombs are the bomb of choice for the Syrian Air Force, and were very likely introduced alongside the use of L-39 jets in Aleppo.
FABs
In October 2012 Russian FAB M62 high explosive bombs first made an appearance. These are simply large high explosive bombs, and while they haven't been used as widely as OFAB bombs they are far larger and much more powerful. Unexploded FAB bombs have been spotted making up part of a massive truck bomb used by Jabhat al-Nusra.
RBK Cluster Bombs
RBK 250/250-275 cluster bomb dispensers and their associated cluster bomblets first made their appearance in the conflict aroundJuly 10th 2012 in the Jabal Shehshebo region in the Hama, later confirmed by Human Rights Watch. Evidence of only one cluster bomb was found at that time, carrying AO-1 SCH fragmentation bomblets, designed to attack lightly armoured targets and ground personnel. Here activists took the incredible risk of lining them up for a Youtube video
Cluster bombs are rather unique as they will nearly always leave behind evidence of their use, namely the dispenser part of the bomb which opens up when deployed to scatter the bomblets, rather than exploding like a traditional bomb. This means that each bomb dropped can be reasonably expected to leave behind a casing.
Until August 2012 there were no more videos of cluster bombs or bomblets until activists in Abu Kamal posted this video
Again, they take a huge risk moving these bomblets to make a Youtube video, and what they are showing here are PTAB 2.5m cluster bomblets, primarily used as anti-armour weapons, but equally deadly to anything else in the area.
There were virtually no other reports of cluster bomb use until around October 10th, when shortly after the opposition captured a major highway in the Idlib region there was a sudden and massive increase in reports of cluster bomb use across the entire country. Later, in late November, we saw the first images of incendiary cluster bombs loaded with thermite based ZAB incendiary bomblets. This escalation in the air war appeared to occur shortly after a series of military bases were captured in the Aleppo region.
ZAB-100-105s
Around the same time ZAB incendiary cluster bombs made their first appearance in the conflict we also saw the first use of ZAB-100-105 incendiary bombs, containing both a napalm style mixture and 9 thermite cartridges designed to scatter on impact. More details of the contents of these bombs can be found here.
ODABs
ODABs are fuel-air bombs which create huge explosive fireballs that are capable of much more destruction against buildings than an OFAB bomb. It's believed by some people these bombs were used in Azaz in an incident where it appears only two bombs flattened houses in "an area of approximately 70-by-70 meters – more than half a football field" killing over 40 civilians. Judging by UXO evidence it appears these bombs have only been used since August 2012, and not in huge quantities. More examples can be found here.
BETABs
So far only a few examples of BETAB penetration bombs have been recorded since their first appearance in September 2012, specifically the BETAB-500M62 free-fall 500kg model. Designed to penetrate and destroy reinforced structures it's unclear why one would be used in a village outside of Aleppo, as the above example was. While these bombs are cleared for use on the various jets used by the Syrian Air Force it's unclear if they can be dropped by helicopters. More examples can be found here.
ADIEDs
From August 2012 there were multiple reports of ADIEDs (Air Deployed Improvised Explosive Devices) dropped across Syria. To begin with multiple examples of what appears to be DIY bombs, barrels filled with explosives and piece of shrapnel were reportedly dropped from helicopters in locations across Syria, followed by an increasing number of reports of "TNT barrel" being dropped.
What appears to have happened is activists have begun to use the term "barrel bomb" or "TNT barrel" to describe pretty much any cylinder shape bomb they see being dropped, something that's reflected in the increasing number of videos being uploaded to Youtube described as showing "barrel bombs" or "TNT barrels" that in fact clearly are OFABs or one of the other bombs shown above.
In late October 2012 videos were posted online that showed members of the Syrian air force dropping these devices from the back of a helicopter, seemingly confirming that these improvised devices were being used by the Syrian Air Force. More examples of ADIEDs can be found here.
Naval Mines
In December 2012 we saw the first sighting of naval mines dropped from helicopters in two locations in Syria. It's unclear how effective these have been as weapons, or whether this reflects supply issues for the Syrian Air Force.
Update December 17th Thanks to the many people who made a variety of suggestions for the identity of the missile, and I believe we now know what this is. It appears to be part of a S-200 surface to air missile, specifically the "PRD-81/5S25/5S28 solid propellant booster using RAM-10K filler with 3-5 sec burn duration". How it got into that field is still a mystery, but it seems we can exclude this video from examples of surface to surface missile in Syria.
Update December 19th Thanks to @massdall for this video which gives a clear view of the booster described above.
In the past week there's been numerous reports in the press of claims by US and NATO officials of Scud missiles being fired at opposition forces in Syria. Since then a number of videos have been posted online claiming to show Scud missile launches, but none have been clear enough to make a positive ID, for example
The Syrian military has a variety of tactical ballistic missiles including Soviet, North Korean, and Iranian missiles, so it cannot be assumed these launches are Scud missiles.
Today two videos were posted online showing the remains of a large missile, possibly the first example of tactical ballistic missile remains being filmed in Syria
The missile is covered with Russian text, but the markings don't give much useful information, with most of it appearing to be basic technical information and information about the correct method of transport, none of which provides enough detail to make a positive ID. As the text is in Russian it means the following missiles used by the Syrian military are the most likely suspects
From what I can tell the missile in the video is too thin to be a Scud, and the OTR-21/KN-02 doesn't appear to have tail fins in the same position, so that would leave the FROG-7. However, due to the damage on the missile it's difficult to find matching features, so for now I'll have to leave this one as an unidentified missile.
Over the past few months I've been collecting UXO evidence of what has appeared to be crude DIY barrel bombs being dropped by the Syrian Air Force. CJ Chivers has also written about these DIY weapons on the New York Times At War Blog and the Russian Military Analyst Col. Evgeny Khrushchev has written for Russia Today describing reports as "barrel bomb baloney".
Now for the first time we have video footage, apparently leaked or captured from members of the Syrian Air Force and filmed inside a Mil Mi-8 (Hip) helicopter, showing what appears to be DIY barrel bombs thrown out of the rear door of the helicopter.
This seems to support earlier video footage that appeared to show a barrel bomb being dropped in much the same way (35s)
This seems to clearly demonstrate that bar any accusations that the videos have been faked (certainly not by the opposition, unless they suddenly have access to helicopters) that DIY barrel bombs are being used by the Syrian Air Force, as opposed to claims of their use being "baloney".
Big thanks to @RobotNickk for highlighting these videos.
Due to the large quantity of cluster bomb videos coming out of Syria at the moment it's not really reasonable to post endless videos of cluster bomb tail fins sticking out the ground, so I've selected some of the more interesting and unusual videos posted in the last week.
In this first video from Al Hivounah, Douma we see an excellent example of clearly marked cluster bomblets
This video from Maarrat al-Numan, Idlib shows the holes left by detonated cluster bomblets alongside bomblets that have become embedded in the ground after failing to detonate
Here we see the shrapnel left behind from exploded cluster bomblets in Kafr Tahari-m, Idlib
In this video from East Bweyda, Homs we see a cluster bomb canister's ejection rod causing difficulties for the people trying to remove it from the ground
In Alth, Idlib, this unusual video shows a cluster bomb canister tail lodged in the roof of a nearby building
The next two videos from East Bweyda, Homs, and Maarrat al-Numan, Idlib, claim to show civilians injured as result of cluster bomb attacks, but it's extremely difficult to verify the accuracy of the those claims
Human Rights Watch has put out a new report with more details of cluster bombs used in Syria in the two weeks since their last report. I've been providing them with videos of cluster bombs during that time, and I would like to thank all of you who sent me links to videos for your help with gathering all the videos of cluster bombs in Syria. I'm fairly confident the vast majority of videos (if not all) of cluster bombs in Syria were gathered together for this, along with many photographs. More videos, photos, and images can be found on the HRW site, as well as this video explaining the details of the report
To start with here's two pictures demonstrating extremely irresponsible behaviour with unexploded cluster bomblets, both showing AO1-Sch bomblets being held by children
On the opposite end of the UXO handling spectrum we have this video from al-Qusayr, Homs, showing PTAB 2.5m bomblets buried in the ground marked with circles of rocks as a warning to others, an effect unfortunately ruined by the handling of one of the bomblets at the end of the video
In Armanaz, Idlib, we have a series of videos, first two showing holes left by detonating bomblets, then one showing unexploded bomblets lodged in the ground, and finally one showing the tail end of a canister
In Maarrat al-Numan, Idlib, we have this photo of AO1-Sch bomblets, including the markings "55 107 77", which if I believe shows the factory it was manufactured in, the batch, and the year of manufacture, which is an interesting consideration when looking at these bomblets
