Illustrative image.
Syria’s Islamist-led government has taken over several air defense systems which were until recently held by the now-defunct Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Late in August, the Kurdish-led group announced its dissolution as part of an integration plan agreed upon with the government. The agreement was brokered by the United States earlier this year following a fierce battle in northern and eastern Syria that saw the Kurds getting defeated by Damascus.
Under the agreement, SDF fighters were merged into Syria’s new military and security forces, and more recently heavy weapons previously held by the group were handed over to the government.
Video footage that surfaced online on September 3 revealed that air defenses were among the heavy weapons handed over. The footage shows a convoy of trucks for the Syrian Ministry of Defense carrying at least two 9K33 Osa short-range air defense systems, and three 2P25 transporter erector launchers for the 2K12 Kub medium-range air defense system, with other support equipment from the northeastern governorate of al-Hasakah west, most likely towards the northern governorate of Aleppo.
The Osa can engage aerial targets with a range up to 15 kilometers, while the Kub has an engagement range of up to 24 kilometers.
The Soviet-made systems remain a serious threat, especially as the former Syrian military is reported to have upgraded its Osa and Kub systems in the past.
Amid the collapse of the regime of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the SDF seized several air defense systems that were deployed at military positions within its territories, or in government areas that it briefly entered. Many officers also defected to the group in the final days of the regime, taking with them more such systems.
Israel launched a large-scale bombing campaign to destroy Syria’s military capabilities, especially air defenses, hours after the fall of the Assad regime more than a year ago. Israeli strikes hit SDF territories in the north and northeast of the country.
Turkey also launched a series of strikes to destroy heavy weapons which the group took hold of after the fall of the regime.
However, it appears that both Israel and Turkey failed to completely destroy all the air defenses that came under the control of the SDF.
It is unclear if the systems recently handed over to the government are operational, or if the new military has the means to maintain and operate them.
Several recent Hebrew media reports said that Syria is making efforts to rebuild its air defense, warning that this could restrict Israel’s freedom of operations in the country’s airspace.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
