HTS gains a strategic edge with the capture of tanks and aircraft
Syrian fighters from the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) faction are swiftly seizing territory, capturing a significant amount of valuable military equipment. Here is what they have acquired, including nearly 200 aircraft and tanks.
It is reported that HTS fighters are halfway to Homs, having already captured Aleppo and Hama, where they seized considerable military equipment. If Homs falls, the Assad regime would be cut off from the Mediterranean Sea and Russian support from the port in Tartus and the Hmeimim airbase.
The Assad regime lost nearly 200 tanks and planes in a week
Syrian government forces, upon retreating from Aleppo and later from the city of Hama, abandoned a wealth of valuable equipment. Now, some open-source intelligence analysts have taken a close look at the HTS fighters' gains, and it appears their armoured forces may be able to use at least some of the 145 captured tanks. Additionally, 35 aircraft and helicopters have fallen into the rebels' hands.
Among the tanks, the majority (84 units) are outdated T-54/55 and T-62 models. However, these are still much more valuable than a pickup truck with a heavy machine gun or a ZU-23-2 gun (23 mm) in the back. Surprisingly, there is a significant number of much newer T-72 family machines (51 units) and very rare T-90A models (five units).
These represent an advanced upgrade of the T-72B model, featuring a modern fire control system with thermal imaging and night vision, allowing these tanks to operate effectively at night and in adverse weather conditions.
Additionally, the T-90A was factory-equipped with Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armour, which is rare among Syrian equipment. Such armour is mainly found on newer versions of the T-72B and B3, with just over 300 units delivered from Russia after 2015. The remaining T-72M1 tanks in service did not have any reactive armour blocks.
The second category includes planes and helicopters, which the fighters are unlikely to be able to operate, but this does not mean there will be no attempts. In the video below, you can see them attempting to start a Mi-8/17 helicopter using online manuals. Most likely, some fighters will continue trying, using, for example, simulators like Digital Combat Simulator World.
The fighters captured 35 aircraft, of which 24 were Czechoslovak Aero L-39 Albatros models. These are light training-combat aircraft capable of carrying up to 1,000 kg of load on four pylons, such as pods with unguided rockets or 23 mm cannons. It's important to note that Syria had around 60 planes before the war, so losing a third of the fleet is disastrous. However, it is not known in what condition the captured aircraft are, as they may have been non-flyers, serving as a spare parts depot for others.
Other captured equipment includes nine MiG-23 planes, one Mi-8/17 helicopter, and one HESA Ababil-3 reconnaissance drone. The most beneficial for the fighters might be the helicopter and the reconnaissance drone if they have a control station for it. Both units would be tremendously helpful if they could manage to field pilots to operate them.
Mi-8/17 helicopters can carry up to 24 soldiers, which could prove crucial in conducting raids deep into enemy territory. Meanwhile, the Iranian Ababil-3 drone can provide early warning of Syrian army counterattacks. Additionally, there are individual examples of very valuable self-propelled anti-aircraft systems or entire batteries of stationary S-125 Neva or S-75 Dvina systems, which could be a source of improvised ballistic missiles.
