Al-Moutasem Brigade: A New American Backed FSA Group in Northern Aleppo
April 2, 2016
By
The OSINT Blog
This write-up was originally published on www.theosintblog.com
American support for rebel groups in Syria is not a new story. The U.S. has backed a variety of rebel groups in Syria in their fight against the Syrian government and ISIS. After the much publicized collapse of the U.S. trained Division 30 at the hands of al-Nusra Front, there have been few public statements from government agencies specifying which groups are currently being armed or trained. In recent months the FSA affiliated rebels around Azaz in Northern Aleppo Governorate seem to be increasingly supported by Turkey and the US. Turkey for instance has allowed many fighters to cross its border and join rebel factions in the North Aleppo pocket. Turkey has also conducted sporadic artillery strikes on ISIS positions in North Aleppo to assist rebel groups in their advance against ISIS.
A map of rebel held territory in Northern Aleppo near Azaz on March 14th, 2016 (@ValkryV, 2016)
The rebel groups in this North Aleppo pocket are cut off from Syrian Government territory, and while they have clashed with the Kurdish YPG and other groups within the U.S. backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The U.S. seems to have intervened and tried to broker a truce between rebels and the YPG in this area, though it remains to be seen if this will have any effect long term. In either case, the rebel groups that operate in Northern Aleppo Governorate will be key in securing the Turkish border and removing ISIS from the area.
In this write-up we will be researching a Free Syrian Army group called
al-Moutasem Brigade (Arabic:
لواء المعتصم); al-Moutasem operates in Northern Aleppo Governorate around Azaz. The group is relatively new to the war in Syria; al-Moutasem’s videos first appeared on the internet in November, 2015. In recent months they have drastically increased in activity and size with multiple pickup trucks and heavy machine guns. Furthermore, video and photographic evidence we have gathered suggests they are backed by the U.S.
An al-Moutasem fighter with the group’s flag (note his plate carrier is designed to carry STANAG NATO magazines)
SMALL ARMS USAGE:
Al-Moutasem Brigade uses a variety of American weapons and gear. While it is possible that some were purchased on the black market, the sheer number of American weapons that the group uses suggests that they were supplied these weapons. Logistics is a key factor in determining whether these groups are American backed. NATO ammunition is not common in Syria and supplying expensive smuggled NATO ammunition would be expensive and too costly for a group of al-Moutasem’s size.
Al-Moutasem has been spotted using multiple M16A2 rifles and at least one M16A2 with an ACOG scope. While the number of M16A2 rifles the group has is suggestive of foreign backing, it is not conclusive proof since significant numbers of M16A2 rifles are available on the black market. Furthermore, Turkey and a variety of other countries in the Middle East use the M16A2. Thus, the appearance of such a large number of M16A2 rifles with the group may point to foreign backing, but it does not necessarily point to explicit American backing of the group. However, the M16A2s combined with other evidence does suggest American backing.
A fighter from the al-Moutasem Brigade prepares to fire his M16A2
An M16A2 with an ACOG scope being used by an al-Moutasem Brigade fighter
Moving on to light and medium machine guns, al-Moutasem has several machine guns that point towards U.S. backing. The group has at least two M249 Light Machine Guns (LMG). The M249 LMG fires 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition using an M27 disintegrating link ammunition belt. The logistics involved in supplying ammunition for the M249 are certainly beyond the means of a small group like al-Moutasem. Most likely a foreign backer is supplying them with that ammunition. Furthermore, Al-Moutasem’s M249s have been upgraded with a SAVIT corporation “para-style” adjustable stock. This is the same stock used in the U.S. Paratrooper variant of the M249.
A M249 LMG with a “para-style” adjustable stock and an added forward hand grip being used by al-Moutasem Brigade
A fighter from al-Moutasem Brigade fires his M249 LMG that has been modified with a “para-style” adjustable stock (note the disintegrating M-27 belt)
Finally, the al-Moutasem Brigade has been spotted firing an M240B (7.62x51mm NATO) Medium Machine Gun (MMG). While the M240B is used by Iraqi Special Operations Forces, it is still an incredibly uncommon weapon in the Middle East as a whole. The presence of this weapon among such a small rebel group clearly points to American support.
A two man MMG team from al-Moutasem Brigade engages ISIS positions using a M240B
MORTARS AND VEHICLE USAGE:
Al-Moutasem Brigade like many other groups in Syria owns a variety of mortar tubes of various sizes. What is unusual however is the presence of American mortar systems with the group. They have been spotted using the M224 60mm mortar, M252 81mm mortar and M120 120mm mortar on several occasions.
A M252 mortar, M120 mortar and M224 mortar being used by al-Moutasem Brigade (from front to back)
Al-Moutasem usually uses mortar rounds that have “ring style” (also known as “cheese charge”) mortar propellant charges. This style of mortar propellant is common in American mortar round designs. This style of mortar round is not very common in Syria where the “bag style” mortar propellant charges are more commonly seen. These mortar rounds are certainly supplied by a foreign backer.
A fighter from al-Moutasem loading a mortar round that has “ring style” propellant charges
Al-Moutasem has several “technicals” some of which are mounted with American .50cal M2HB heavy machine guns. “Technicals” refer to pickup trucks mounted with machine guns or other heavy weaponry. The group has at least 5 pickup trucks mounted with M2HB HMGs and they have a number of other pickup trucks equipped with other heavy machine guns. The presence of the M2HB machine gun points to American backing. Furthermore, these guns are mounted using an American manufactured MK93 mount. This shock absorbing mount is used by the U.S. military to mount .50 cal M2HB machine guns on vehicles as well.
An al-Moutasem “technical” armed with a M2HB machine gun (note the numerous modifications and additions to the truck)
The spare tire mounted on the rear of the “technical” as seen above is of particular interest. Later on in the video we get a closer look at the tire and learn it is a BF Goodrich brand tire. Furthermore, the tread pattern in the video matches the tread pattern seen on BF Goodrich All Terrain TA/KO2 tires.
Al-Moutasem’s spare tire on a 2014 Toyota Hilux Technical armed with a .50 M2HB Machine Gun
BF Goodrich All Terrain TA/KO2 Tread Pattern
This tread pattern is not available in Syria or any of the Middle East and is a fairly new tread pattern (released in late 2014). We were unable to find evidence of this tire tread pattern being sold anywhere other than the US, Mexico, Canada, the UK and Ireland. The presence of this tread pattern in Syria along with brand new 2014 Toyota Hiluxes, American M2HB Browning machine guns and complex recoil compensating gun carriers certainly points towards American involvement.
CONCLUSION:
While the presence of these American weapons and other equipment may not prove American support for al-Moutasem individually, together they paint a clear picture that al-Moutasem Brigade is backed and armed by the United States. In addition to this, there is unconfirmed video evidence that the U.S. supports al-Moutasem in their fight against ISIS through providing close air support. We were unable to verify the authenticity of the footage, but with the level of U.S. support that al-Moutasem has received it would not be surprising if this was the case.
Fighters point towards an A-10 Warthog that may have been providing Close Air Support to rebels including al-Moutasem Brigade
In either case, it is clear that the U.S. government remains committed to training Syrian rebel groups for the fight against ISIS. The al-Moutasem Brigade is just one of many US backed groups that have begun to appear in Northern Aleppo Governorate and elsewhere in Syria. The collapse of the U.S. backed Division 30 at the hands of al-Nusra Front has not stopped American efforts to arm Syrian rebel groups in their fight against ISIS. The al-Moutasem Brigade will clearly be a key player in the defeat of ISIS in Northern Aleppo Governorate.
(This write-up was created with assistance from Twitter users
@PurpleCombatMod and
@The_Groundview. Feel free to follow them on Twitter for updates on the situation in the Middle East and Syria. You can find us on Twitter
@theOSINTblog)
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