Syrian Authorities Seized Loads Of Weapons, Including Anti-Aircraft Missile, From Daraa (Photos)

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On April 20, Syrian authorities showcased loads of weapons which were collected from the southern governorate of Daraa over the last three months. 

A security official told the Syrian Arab News Agency that some of the weapons were voluntarily handed over by the locals in Daraa.

“The weapons confiscation operations took more than three months, with the cooperation of the local community, which contributed to the confiscation of these weapons from different parts of the governorate,” the unnamed official said.

The seized weapons included hundreds of assault rifles as well as heavier weapons like rocket-propped grenades and mortars.

Photos released by the SANA also showed a Soviet-made Igla-1E MANPADs [man-portable air-defense system], which was likely looted from the stockpiles of the Syrian military early on in the war, as well as a Bulgarian-made Fagot ATGM [anti-tank guided missile], which was supplied by the US and its allies to Free Syrian Army factions in Syria.

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The widespread of weapons is one of the main factors contributing to the unrest in Daraa and other parts of southern Syria.

Weapons looted from the Syrian military or supplied by the US and its allies in the early years of the war are still being used by radicals in Daraa against government forces, former rebels and civilians. Criminals, like drug and weapons traffickers, have been also taking advantage of the widespread of illegal weapons in the governorate.

In order to address this threat, Damascus issued a decree last March granting amnesty to anyone who hands over illegal weapons to the authorities before the end of the year. The step appears to be paying off.

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