Syria: The Free Syrian Army From Rifles to MANPADS TR Nov12

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

• Since it announced its formation on 29 July 2012 in an Internet video, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) has been the main armed opposition group operating in Syria.
• The FSA is an organization composed of loosely aligned groups that have organically grown up around defecting Syrian armed forces personnel, local militias, activists, and other volunteers actively opposing the Assad regime.
• The FSA utilized IEDs in an attempt to combat the capability superiority of the Syrian military.
• IEDs caused the Syrian military to reduce and, in some cases, totally eliminate infantry support for tanks, creating an opportunity for rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attacks on vulnerable tanks.
• The FSA has also found ways to utilize multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) innovatively, such as mounting the weapon on the back of a pickup truck.
• The FSA has used anti-aircraft weapons, such as the ZU-23-2, to bring down Syrian aircraft.
• The appearance of SA-7s in the FSA arsenal will increase the ability of the FSA to contend with the Syrian air force.