Rebel tactics in Syria echo Ukraine's drone warfare trends
On November 27, 2024, a rebel offensive against Bashar al-Assad's regime forces began in the Aleppo region of Syria. The key to this offensive is technology and tactics familiar from Ukraine. We present what the rebels are using.
After years of relative calm in Syria, there has been a significant rebel offensive near Aleppo, which appears to have caught Bashar al-Assad's regime off guard. Latest reports indicate that the rebels of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group are already in the western suburbs of Aleppo.
It's worth noting that some Syrian government forces have withdrawn from certain regions, and numerous photos have emerged of abandoned or captured equipment, such as BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles and T-72 tanks. It seems that the rebels' success is largely due to the use of FPV drones to attack armored vehicles.
Furthermore, there is evidence of simple drones carrying warheads weighing up to 100 kilograms, which have been launched towards Syrian government bases or strongholds.
FPV drones — a cost-effective and efficient equivalent of long-range anti-tank guided missiles
The era of FPV drones in armed conflicts was popularized by Ukraine, where they were incredibly effective weapons during the early phases of their use. However, over time, the Russians deployed wide-scale signal jammers, leading to a frequency battle between drone operators and jammer creators that continues to this day.
For now, Syrian rebels do not face this issue, as they seem to have secured a significant number of drones and trained many pilots. A crucial aspect of these drones is their ability to make seemingly useless armaments effective and deliver them with precision over a distance of several hundred metres or a few kilometres.
Building such a drone doesn't require much, as it only needs: a frame, electric motors with rotors, a battery, a camera, and a control system based on readily available components. Grenades such as the PG-7VL, able to penetrate even 50 centimetres of armour, can then be attached to the drone.
Alternatives include weaker bomblets from cluster munitions, anti-tank hand grenades, attachment-type PGN grenades, or even modified hand grenades. For the detonator, Ukrainian drones frequently featured wires at the front, which would close the electric circuit upon impact, causing an explosion. Essentially, the possibilities are only limited by the creativity of the constructors.
Such drones are perfect for destroying infantry fighting vehicles and even tanks, as the Syrian government forces had a mix of T-72, T-62, and T-54/55 tanks (the current quantity status is unknown). It is noteworthy that Syria had dozens of T-90 tanks, but some of these vehicles might have been returned to Russia.
In recent years, they have not only refused to export tanks but have also withdrawn weapons stationed in Syria, including fighters. The use of FPV drones will likely lead to mass outfitting of existing tanks with scrap metal, and "armored barns" known from the war in Ukraine may also appear in Syria.
