Syrian opposition forces have captured two launchers and a transport and loading vehicle belonging to the BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launcher system, which were in the possession of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
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The videos showing the seizure were published by the monitoring project Clash Report and the Telegram channel “MiddleEastinUkrainian.”
One of the launchers, identified as 9A52-2, was captured in the village of Al-Safira, located southeast of Aleppo. The vehicle showed significant damage, including the driver’s cabin and a broken front wheel. Additionally, the footage reveals that the launcher still contained eight rockets ready for use.
The other launcher 9A52-2, along with a transport and loading vehicle 9T234-2, was found abandoned in the village of Khanaser, near Al-Safira. The poor quality of the videos makes it impossible to determine the functional condition of the equipment or verify the presence of additional ammunition.
The BM-30 Smerch in Syria
The BM-30 Smerch, known for its capability to launch long-range rockets and cause devastating damage, entered service in the Syrian Arab Republic only after the onset of the civil war. A limited number of these weapons were transferred from Russian arsenals to Assad’s regime, consolidating its military power during the conflict.
Evidence of the use of these systems in the civil war first emerged in 2014, when fragments of 9M55K missiles were found in the areas of Kfar Zita and Al-Tah, north of Hama. Since then, Smerch systems have been used in strategic military operations by the regime.
The capture of these launchers by opposition forces represents a significant blow to Assad’s regime, given the destructive impact these systems can have in combat. The seizure also highlights the disorganization in some areas controlled by government-loyal troops, which abandoned high-value strategic equipment.
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Map location
Control over the cities of Al-Safira and Khanaser is crucial for the forces involved in the conflict due to their proximity to Aleppo, one of Syria’s main urban and strategic centers. The struggle for these areas reflects the complexity and volatility of the conflict in the region.
Videos: X @clashreport / Telegram @MiddleEastinUkrainian. Source: mil.in.ua. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
