In this article we will examine the load-bearing equipment of the Yekîneyên Antî Teror, the Syrian Democratic Force’s Counter-Terror group. In our previous article we looked at the ubiquitous pattern of load-bearing equipment widely issued to the SDF and YPG. You can find that article here.
Conflict
Podcast V26 – Part Two: The Six Day War-War of ’67: The Spine Breaker
In this article we continue our interview with Egyptian artist Galal Abdo Hashem, you can find part one of this series, here. When we reached the Six-Day War and the War of Attrition in our interview with Galal, we tried to get all the possible details we could from him. In the end, he told us that he will speak about the notable incidents as he has many stories that would take months to cover.
A Look Inside An Afghan Weapons Maintenance Facility
Masoud Andarabi, Afghanistan’s former acting NDS Chief and Deputy Director for Ops and current Acting Minister of Interior, has shared a short video of an Afghan Ministry of Defense weapons maintenance facility.
YPG and SDF Load Bearing Equipment in North Eastern Syria
In this article we will examine some of the load-bearing equipment and kit used by the YPG and SDF Forces during the ongoing Syrian conflict. First a little context, the YPG is an abbreviation of Yekîneyên Parastina Gel in Kurdish and translates to People’s Protection Units in English. This initially Kurdish only militia can trace its lineage to 2011 when we saw the YPG become an official entity with the establishment of the Kurdish Supreme Committee when the left-leaning Democratic Union Party and the center to right-leaning Kurdish National Council formed a pact.
Afrin Liberation Forces Raid an Faylaq al-Sham (SNA) Outpost in Brad/Kafr Nabu
On the 21th June the Afrin Liberation Forces or “Hêzên Rizgariya Efrînê” released photos, a video and statements about a raid carried out by the group on an outpost of the SNA (reportedly Faylaq al-Sham also known as the Sham Legion) between the villages of Brad and Kafr Nabu in the Aleppo Governorate in northern Syria (an approximate location could be at these coordinates-“36°21’49.96″N 36°53’52.05″E”).
Podcast V25: Ali – A Pakistani Firearms Collector
In this episode, we interview a small arms collector in Pakistan, Mr Ali. Ali has vast experience in the small arms market of Pakistan and was willing to share his knowledge on how it operates, the availability of certain weaponry and the price ranges, as well as the legal regulations and laws that are getting stricter in Pakistan.
He also runs an Instagram page, guns_pakistan, which shows his collection of armament and that of dealers he knows. Do check it out, you will not regret it.
The public SoundCloud version below includes the first thirty minutes of the podcast, our supporters on Patreon can access the entire interview, which is over an hour long. So if you haven’t already please support us in our mission to bring you the best examination of MENA small arms culture we can!
Examining IS ‘Wilayat Iraq’ video “Strike [Their] Necks” Pt.2
The so-called Islamic State, and their previous organizations Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (Syria), have sustained an insurgency in Iraq for over 16 years. After the collapse of most of its territorial control in 2017, (besides some hideouts in Anbar province) they are again focused on fighting an insurgency campaign. They have been depleted over the years by the efforts of the Iraqi security forces and the International coalition, so much so that in 2019, ISIS conducted only small raids, small scale attacks, assassinations/executions and abductions and IED attacks. This was a far cry from their capabilities circa 2013-16. However, in recent months their attacks in Iraq have increased, especially in the north of the country. Now, IS have released a long propaganda film, in this two-part article, we will examine the film and see what we can learn about their current capabilities and weapons. You can find the first part of this article examining the small arms seen in the video here.
The Demise of Al-Qadisiyah Establishments During the Invasion of Iraq
Roughly six months into Operation Iraqi Freedom, the commander of United States Central Command testified before the U.S. Senate Committee that, “there is more ammunition in Iraq than any place I’ve ever been in my life, and it is all not securable.” So, how can a country with a nearly limitless stockpile of weapons and the indigenous Tabuk production facility also be the birthplace of such arcane rifles? Operation Iraqi Freedom changed the Iraqi black market arms trade forever and, in a matter of two months, turned Tabuk rifles into artifacts only found in history books, obscure sales, and black-market trading.
Examining IS ‘Wilayat Iraq’ video “Strike [Their] Necks” Pt.1
The so-called Islamic State, and their previous organizations Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (Syria), have sustained an insurgency in Iraq for over 16 years. After the collapse of most of its territorial control in 2017, (besides some hideouts in Anbar province) they are again focused on fighting an insurgency campaign. They have been depleted over the years by the efforts of the Iraqi security forces and the International coalition, so much so that in 2019, ISIS conducted only small raids, small scale attacks, assassinations/executions and abductions and IED attacks. This was a far cry from their capabilities circa 2013-16. However, in recent months their attacks in Iraq have increased, especially in the north of the country. Now, IS have released a long propaganda film, in this two-part article, we will examine the film and see what we can learn about their current capabilities and weapons.
V22: Hydro-Dipping Small Arms in Idlib, One Craftsman’s Experience
Welcome to the 22nd episode of the Silah Report Podcast, we recently had the pleasure of speaking with a gunsmith currently living in Idlib who has a long history fighting the SAA, not as an armed militant but as a gunsmith. Before the rebel pocket in Damascus fell to the SAA, he worked on manufacturing ammunition, weaponry, and even mortars for the resistance. He also worked on hydro-dipping rebel firearms. Currently, he resides in Idlib and had a short-lived business project hydro-dipping firearms. He agreed to be interviewed and to inform us about his journey specifically in that field, given that there are hundreds of photos of Syrian rebels with painted firearms floating throughout the internet and it is quite common now to see hydro dipped AK-pattern rifles. We at Silah Report wanted to know more about the industry and the people involved in it.