Syrian rebels have seized a quantity of armored vehicles and heavy equipment in the Aleppo countryside after Syrian forces, supported by Iranian militias, fled the area.
Among the captured combat vehicles were three T-90A tanks, considered among the most advanced tanks operating in the region. They also left behind T-72M and T-55 tanks, Tiger armored personnel carriers, a 2S1 self-propelled howitzer, a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher and a BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle.
The withdrawal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, particularly the 25th Special Forces Division (also known as the “Tiger” forces) under the command of Major General Suhail al-Hassan, has significantly changed the balance of power in the area. It is estimated that at least five modern Russian tanks are in the control of opposition forces.
The Nimr forces, once considered a key force in the Syrian regime’s military campaign, have now seen their base captured by the opposition, raising concerns about the future capabilities of pro-regime forces. Eyewitness accounts from the site indicate that opposition forces captured the abandoned tanks after little resistance, as Assad’s forces appeared to be rapidly retreating.
“The regime’s withdrawal was unexpected and sudden, leaving behind large amounts of military equipment,” a local source said. The captured equipment, particularly T-90A tanks, highlights the changing nature of the conflict as advanced Russian-supplied weapons reach both sides of the battlefield.
The loss of this equipment raises questions about the ability of Assad’s forces to maintain a foothold in the war-torn areas. At the same time, the opposition forces’ newly acquired firepower could provide a tactical advantage in their ongoing fight against the Syrian army. Observers say the capture of this heavy weaponry could change the dynamics of future clashes in northern Syria.