1
http://www.smallarmssurvey.org
Fire and Forget
The Proliferation of Man-portable Air Defence Systems in Syria
Introduction
Since the start of Syria’s civil war in
2011, the country has become a
hotbe
d of arms trafficking and
proliferati
on of...
More
1
http://www.smallarmssurvey.org
Fire and Forget
The Proliferation of Man-portable Air Defence Systems in Syria
Introduction
Since the start of Syria’s civil war in
2011, the country has become a
hotbe
d of arms trafficking and
proliferati
on of conventional
weapons. Imag
es and accounts of the
conflict reveal that armed groups
have acquired a variety of small arms
and light weapon
s, some of which
are rece
nt-generation systems that
are rarely encount
ered outside of
government control elsewhere.
Among the most sensitive of these
weapons are the numerous manportable air defence systems
(MANPADS) that armed groups have
looted from Syria
n government
depots and acquir
ed from other
sources. Many of these missiles are
newer and more technologically
sophisticated than illic
it MANPADS
in other countries. Given the porosity
of Syria’s borders, the presence of
groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and
other violent extremists, and the
inherent limitations of controlling
small arms and li
Less