NEWS

Devastating homemade weapons of Syria

March 12, 2015 08:22 IST

The civil war in Syria has seen a fierce battle between President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the rebels. The rebels who lack the resources of Assad's government forces, have had to improvise and build their own bombs, missiles and mortar shells.

The fighters have been fighting in the besieged city of Aleppo using these homemade weapons. One weapon of choice is nicknamed the 'hell cannon'. The resistance fighters take great pride in the arm that usually fires out propane gas cylinders.

Al-Shamiyah Front fighters inspect a new locally-made cannon named "Borkan" (Volcano) as it was being launched towards forces loyal to Syria's president Bashar Al-Assad located in Aleppo artillery school. The "Borkan" is made out of four tubes attached to a loader, which can fire four shells at a time, and have a range of three kilometres (1.86 miles). Photograph: Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters

Men fill gas canisters with explosive for usage with a cannon named "Borkan" (Volcano) inside a weapon factory in Aleppo countryside. Photograph: Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters

A locally made shell is launched by rebel fighters towards forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad at the frontline in al-Breij district of Aleppo. Photograph: Sultan Kitaz/Reuters

Rebel fighters make improvised mortar shells inside a weapons factory in the southern countryside of Idlib. Photograph: Khalil Ashawi/Reuters

A rebel fighter teaches fellow fighters how to make explosive mines in Hama countryside. Photograph: Nour Fourat/Reuters

Free Syrian Army fighters prepare to fire rockets towards forces loyal to Syria's president Bashar al-Assad in Raqqa, eastern Syria. Photograph: Nour Fourat/Reuters

A Free Syrian Army fighter rides a tractor as he moves a home-made cannon in Ashrafieh, Aleppo. Photograph: Muzaffar Salman/Reuters

A Free Syrian Army fighter prepares homemade bombs inside a house in the old city of Aleppo. Photograph: Molhem Barakat/Reuters

A Free Syrian Army fighter works as he prepares a rocket in a makeshift weapon factory in Aleppo. Photograph: Loubna Mrie/Reuters

A Free Syrian Army fighter displays homemade bombs made from ornamental balls in the old city of Aleppo. Photograph: Muzaffar Salman/Reuters

Fighters from the Free Syrian Army's Tahrir al Sham brigade use a shotgun to fire an improvised grenade at Syrian Army soldiers in the Arabeen neigbourhood of Damascus. Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters

A homemade military vehicle called Sham 1 is seen in Khan al-Assal area. Photograph: Zain Karam/Reuters

Syrian brothers who used to be musicians make homemade explosives for the Free Syrian Army in the Ma'ar Shamarine village near Idlib. Photograph: Ghaith Taha/Reuters

Free Syrian Army fighters stand next to a home-made rocket launcher in Sermeen near Idlib. Photograph: Shaam News Network/Reuters

Members of the free Syrian Army use a catapult to launch a homemade bomb during clashes with pro-government soldiers in the city of Aleppo. Photograph: Asmaa Waguih/Reuters

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