Clear Evidence Of DIY Barrel Bombs Being Used By The Syrian Air Force

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.

As Bjørn H Jespersen helpfully pointed out at 45s on the 5th video you see the fuze being lit by a cigarette.

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.

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You can contact the author on Twitter @brown_moses or by email at brownmoses@gmail.com

Helicopter Downed In Damascus - Collected Videos And Images

As reported by the BBC and other news organisations the Free Syrian Army claim to have shot down a helicopter in the Damascus district of Al Qabun that had been firing on the district of Jobar

A number of people have sent me additional images and videos from the incident, so thanks to @DamascusTribune, @septimius_sever, and @troublejee for the following images.

@HebahAlhomsi posted two images showing the helicopter as it was crashing, and debris from the helicopter

She also posted this very graphic image of the remains of one of the pilot.

This video shows helicopter engulfed in flames just before it crashes

Another angle of the helicopter dropping out of the sky

And another

And another showing it crashing among buildings

This video shows the wreckage of the helicopter

Thanks to @troublejee for the above videos, as well as this photograph which he says activist claim to be the man who shot down the helicopter, using a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun, also mentioned by @HebahAlhomsi

Update August 27th Here's another video via @zilal1

The Coordinating free Qaboun Youtube channel is posting multiple videos from the incident in addition to the ones already posted above.

GRAPHIC - The hand of one of the pilots of the helicopter

Two shots of the burning helicopter

Related Articles
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You can contact the author on Twitter @brown_moses or by email at brownmoses@gmail.com

Syrian Activists Claim Al Mayadeen News Tweets FSA Positions To The Syrian Air Force

The Syrian opposition activist THE_47th, who has reliably predicted major defections and other key events spotted a very unusual Tweet on the Al Mayadeen News Twitter account

 The Tweet was immediately deleted, but not before one of his followers took a screenshot.  It apparently reads "There's a water tank above, I just want them to tell the plane about it so he/they [rebels] won't hit it. They've got anti-aircraft too.  Maskaneh, Aleppo countryside".  THE_47th and other opposition activists claim this is evidence that Al Mayadeen journalists are providing details of the FSA positions to the Syrian Air Force, with the Al Mayadeen network putting out a Tweet claiming they were hacked, a claim THE_47th found unconvincing, as shown below

This seems to imply the reported on the ground was trying to send a private message, and accidentally Tweeted it on the main Al Mayadeen Twitter account, which he must have access to. 

France 24 and other organisations have reported Al Mayadeen's political ties to Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah, and pro-opposition activists have already reacted angrily to the above incident, saying Al Mayadeen reporters should leave the country.

Update August 23rd Ali Hashem, Chief Correspondent of Al Mayadeen news, has Tweeted the following

the account was hacked, and we as reporters have no access to it
our reporter in #Aleppo isn't active on twitter neither does she have an account on it

Update August 23rd More from Ali Hashem

Regarding what is circulating about @Almayadeennews account giving tips online, this is not true our account was hacked
Previously Reuters twitter account was hacked, so this is not the first time such incident takes place http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE8721B420120806?irpc=932 …
The most important part is that our reporter is in the city of #Aleppo not the country side Our reporters have no access to the main twitter account that is managed from Beirut

You can contact the author on Twitter @brown_moses or by email at brownmoses@gmail.com