Just one day after ISIS in Sinai (also known as Sinai Province or “Wilayat Sinai”) had published its latest video, Silah Report recorded its 9th podcast and discussed the video’s content and analysed it. Miles, Hrachya, and Adham from Silah Report were joined by guests Calibre Obscura, Analyst Mick, Ataka, MENA Conflict, and KhyberAbdullah. ARES Director N.R. Jenzen-Jones also made a special guest appearance.
If you missed last week’s podcast, check it out here.
https://soundcloud.com/silah-report/v9-sinais-isis-latest-video-baluchistans-fighters-and-more
Following the discussion of the ISIS in Sinai video, we discussed the small arms of armed groups in Baluchistan, who are waging war against Pakistan to form their own independent state. We also discussed the equipment, force size, and training of Pakistani troops who are deployed against them.
Miles brought up some photos showing a Saddam-era brochure for Iraqi’s military industry intended for the weapons expo they held right before the beginning of the Gulf War. And as usual, the group discussed a variety of small arms found for sale in Yemen and other countries in the MENA region.
Reference Images
(Time index: 4:15) Three Palestinian members of ISIS in Sinai carried out suicide attacks on police checkpoints. The video doesn’t show whether their attacks succeeded or were repulsed, or even the extent of damage caused. What is interesting is the Bulgarian Arsenal AK-type self-loading rifles they ar carrying in the photo. Egyptian Central Security forces have used Arsenal-type self-loading rifles extensively before the emergence of ISIS, and many were supplied to Libya.
Egyptian Central Security troops carrying the AR-M1F41, an AKM-pattern rifle.
(8:30) While in the video they wanted to appear intimidating, it is very clear from their combat performance that the quality of fighters has dropped immensely due to attrition and the loss of training facilities. An Egyptian soldier passes by writing on a wall saying “Islamic State” in a ruined building.
(27:30) Nevertheless, IEDs, especially EFPs (Explosively Formed Penetrator) still remains the deadliest weapon in their arsenal.
(30:45) Calibre Obscura introduces his ongoing research into the Baluchistan fighters who are combating the Pakistani army. Due to the environment that they fight in they tend to prefer 7.62 × 54R mm weapons, but use some 5.56 × 45 mm weaponry in marksmanship roles. In the picture, we also see a number of fighters with captured early G3 variants from Pakistani troops including body armour and helmets.
(45:00) KhyberAbdullah goes into more detail on the Pakistani troops who are sent to the regions where the Baluchistan fighters are active. The photo above shows a number of Baluchistani fighters in interesting camouflage uniforms.
Would you like to know what else we discussed? Want to know more details on all the topics we covered? Listen to the podcast, and if you liked the content we present then don’t forget to support us on Patreon! Patreon supporters can also submit questions and topics for discussion on future editions of the podcast.
Credits
Introduction audio is taken from movie Son of a Lion, with permission of the director Benjamin Gilmour. The conversation takes place in the Kyber Pakhtunkwa (KPK) region of Pakistan and is between a customer examining a “Krinkov”-patterned rifle that is for sale.
Music is traditional Arabic Dabkha by the name of اغاني دبكة تي رش رش