This article will focus on the weapons shown in the propaganda of Xhemati Alban in 2020. It is part of a four-part series. The introduction and the first part examining handguns can be found here.
The assault rifles used by Xhemati Alban are all AK-pattern self-loading rifles, a significant number of them are chambered in 5.45×39mm, documented variants include AKS-74, AK-74M and AKS-74U rifles, while other documented weapons are 7.62×39mmmm AKM self-loading. Most rifles are unmodified and unsuppressed, some have received a side-rail and are fitted with optics. But one of them stands out, a heavily modified and equipped AKS-74. This rifle is fitted with an early Zenitco PT-1 stock, Fab Defense Ergonomic pattern grip, possibly craft-made safety selector optimized to be used by a left-handed person, a Zenitco B-13 optic rail, Vortex scope SPARC II AR red-dot sight, a Zenitco RP-1 extended bolt handle, a CAA extended magazine release, a Zenitco handguard comprised of a B30 lower rail and a B-31S upper rail, rail covers, a QD mount, Magpul RVG style grip and three different muzzle devices, a locally made flash hider, an unknown flash hider and a locally made suppressor. It should also be noted that some of the aforementioned items are possibly copies of the originals. The rifle’s barrel has been cut down and the front-sight post has been moved back and attached to the gas tube similar to an AK-105. The rifle and the attached parts also feature a well-made paint-job.
Rifles chambered in 5.45×39mm are favored locally despite being expensive (ranging from $750 to $1050), with most fighters not being able to afford them. The salaries paid by Syrian opposition groups in Idlib range from $20 on the low end to $75 on the high end [13]. Therefore they are seen mostly with “Special Forces” units of local groups and foreign fighters with good funding, although some are also carried by “regular” fighters. Many foreign fighters, especially from the Caucasus, who can afford it are also carrying 5.45×39mm rifles (a significant portion of which are equipped with thermal scopes). Many of the AK-series of rifles that are equipped with a thermal or night vision scope are 5.45×39mm rifles (mainly AK-74 and AK-74M), that is possibly because of the increased accuracy and flatter trajectory of the 5.45×39mm cartridges when compared to the earlier 7.62×39mm round. [14].
Figure 1.1 The 5.45×39mm AKS-74 “AK-105”, a plate carrier and a battle belt with a Makarov PM pistol, of a Xhemati Alban fighter from a late December 2020 photo release. (Source: Propaganda released by Xhemati Alban)
Figure 1.2 Xhemati Alban fighter with a 5.45×39mm AKS-74 “AK-105” self-loading rifle from a late December 2020 photo release. (Source: Propaganda released by Xhemati Alban)
Figure 1.3 The 5.45×39mm AKS-74 “AK-105” of the Xhemati Alban fighter, note the 45-round RPK-74 magazine and suppressor. (Source: ARES CONMAT)
Figure 1.4 Xhemati Alban fighter with an AK-74M, picture posted unofficially in early January 2020. (Source: @Flava13_v7, via Twitter)
Another type of rifle observed with Xhemati Alban fighters were AKM(N) rifles, most may be Russian judging by their finish, furniture and the gas block which are consistent with Russian AKMs documented in Syria. Also appearing is another 7.62×39mm AK-pattern rifle, which is probably a heavily modified AKM, which is also equipped with a Picatinny rail. The rifle has been cut down and the gas block has been replaced in a similar way as the before mentioned 5.45×39mm AKS-74 “AK-105”. It is also fitted with a side-folding stock, probably AKS-74/U pattern in style and function.
Attached to many of the documented AKM(N) rifles are BelOMO PK-01 VS red-dot sights, indicating that the rifle features a side-rail to mount optics, which is commonly retrofitted to allow to mount optics on AK-pattern self-loading rifles. The BelOMO PK-01 VS red-dot sight is one of the most common sights to be mounted to AK pattern rifles, the majority of these are used by foreign fighters probably because of its costs of about $200 which is only slightly less than the average cost of an AKM rifle alone.
The AKM self-loading rifles observed in use with the fighters were all seen in the hands of non-specialized fighters (i.e. not specialized to operate light weapons or sniper and anti-materiel rifles) stationed on what is commonly referred to by the fighters as “Ribat”, many of the specialized and/or well-funded fighters carry 5.45×39mm weapons. But this is not just limited to this group, locally 5.45×39mm rifles are favored over 7.62×39mm rifles. The term “Ribat” is used by Jihadists to refer to the frontline and/or frontline positions, the term originated to describe general fortifications, castles and border fortifications [15].
Figure 1.5 Xhemati Alban fighter on the frontline in Kabani, Latakia in mid-November 2020 with an AKM(N) rifle and an unidentified pistol. (Source: ARES CONMAT)
Figure 1.6 A similar Russian AKM for sale in Idlib, Syria in June 2020. (Source: Silah Report Database, Identifier C.20201230.069)
Figure 1.7 A similar Russian AKM for sale in Idlib, Syria in June 2020, note the retrofitted optic mount. (Source: Silah Report Database, Identifier C.20201230.069)
Figure 1.8 Early 7.62×39mm AKM pattern rifle fitted with what is probably a PK-01 VS red-dot sight with an optic cover in a Kryptek-style camouflage pattern, probably displayed in a cave dough by opposition fighters (to protect against mortars, artillery and airstrikes) posted in late November by a pro-Xhemati Alban Telegram channel. (Source: ARES CONMAT)
Figure 1.9 Xhemati Alban fighters with two standard unmodified and unequipped 7.62×39mm AKM self-loading rifles on Ribat, probably in Latakia (and there in the area of Kabani), from early 2020. (Source: Propaganda released by Xhemati Alban)
Figure 1.10 AKM-based rifle, which has been cut down and modified in a similar way as the AKS-74 “AK-105”, from an early 2020 video release. The picture has been modified for better visibility by the author. (Source: Propaganda released by Xhemati Alban)
Also prominently shown in one release a pre-1985 Tula made AKS-74U with a black Molot RPK-74M 45 round magazine inserted. AKS-74U rifles are locally known as “بن لادن” which translates to “Bin Laden” and “كرينكوف” which translates to “Krinkov”. They are valued locally because of several factors some of which are; of its history with the mujahideen in Afghanistan and being carried by leadership figures, some of them include the HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani and the Ajnad al-Kavkaz leader Abdul Hakim Shishani, but it is not just favored locally but also regionally and AKS-74U have been seen with the former leader of the so-called Islamic State (IS) Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and the former al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. For a longer and more detailed explanation of the AKS-74U history with the Afghan Mujahideen and how it’s nickname “Krinkov” came to be, check out this article by the head of Silah Report Miles Vining. Because of its local and regional value but relatively high price, there have been many conversions made which use AK, AKM and Type-56 rifles as a base to convert them to AKS-74U style rifles in Syria, similar conversions have also been observed in Iraq and Yemen where Type-56 and AKM pattern rifles also have been converted to AKS-74U style rifles. They are not only carried by leadership figures but also by some of their bodyguards. For it’s compact size, it is a sensible choice for the security detail of senior figures like for example Hassan Nasrallah the leader of Hezbollah who’s protection team has been observed to carry AKS-74Us. But its usage by close protection teams was not limited to the middle-east, during the cold-war the KGB close protection teams used it and even had a special briefcase to carry an ready AKS-74U [16].
Figure 1.11 Xhemati Alban fighter with a pre-1985 Tula made AKS-74U and a RPK-74M magazine inserted, from a late December 2020 photo release. (Source: Propaganda released by Xhemati Alban)
Figure 1.17 Xhemati Alban fighter with a pre-1985 Tula made AKS-74U and a RPK-74M magazine inserted, also note the medical bag which features high-quality tactical medical products which are rarely seen in Syria; from a late December 2020 photo release. (Source: Propaganda released by Xhemati Alban)
Figure 1.12 Xhemati Alban fighter with a pre-1985 Tula-made AKS-74U, possibly the same rifle and fighter as above; picture posted unofficially in early January 2020. (Source: @Flava13_v7, via Twitter)
Figure 1.13 HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani carrying an AKS-74U during a visit to the frontline in Jabal al-Zawiya in early August 2020. (Source: ARES CONMAT)
Figure 1.14 HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani with a post-1985 AKS-74U during a speech to Inghimasi (suicide shock-troops) fighters of HTS “Special Forces” red-band unit in early February 2020 in western Aleppo city. (Source: ARES CONMAT)
Figure 1.15 Ajnad al-Kavkaz leader Abdul Hakim al-Shishani (located somewhere in greater Idlib) with a 5.45×39mm AKS-74U speaking about the death of Yusup Temirkhanov in an early August 2018 released video. (Source: ARES CONMAT)
Figure 1.16 Former IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi with a post-1985 AKS-74U with an RPK-74 magazine in a small underground compound (6mx8m tunnel) in the Anbar desert, Iraq [8] in a late April 2019 video. (Source: ARES CONMAT)
Figure 1.17 Former al-Qaeda in Iraq and Mujahideen Shura Council leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi with a post-1985 Tula made AKS-74U in a video released by the Mujahideen Shura Council from mid-April 2006. (Source: ARES CONMAT)
Figure 1.18 Former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden with a 5.45×39mm AKS-74U carbine with an RPK-74 light machine gun magazine inserted, from a 1998 interview in Helmand, Afghanistan [17]. (Source: Rahimullah Yusufzai / Associated Press)
Figure 1.19 An AKM pattern rifle converted to an AKS-74U style rifle, for sale for $450 in Idlib in mid-April 2020. (Source: ARES CONMAT)
Figure 1.20 Hassan Nasrallah bodyguard with an post-1985 AKS-74U during a public appearance in December 2011. (source: LA Times Blog)
References
[13] صحيفة جسر. 2020. تعرف على رواتب مقاتلي المعارضة في الشمال السوري – صحيفة جسر. [online] Available at: <https://www.jesrpress.com/2020/07/23/%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%81-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%A8-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B6%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85/>
[14] n.d. [online] Available at: <https://znaki.fm/teams/luganskii-patronnyi-zavod/>
[15] Eslam.de. n.d. Ribat. [online] Available at: <http://www.eslam.de/begriffe/r/ribat.htm>
[16] Vining, M., 2019. [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp4kkIHGR0Q>
[17] Mülherr, S., 2011. Bin Ladens letztes Interview: “Wenn ich sterbe, dann als Märtyrer” – WELT. [online] DIE WELT. Available at: <https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article13320898/Wenn-ich-sterbe-dann-als-Maertyrer.html>
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