Dozens of Russian-Supplied Tanks Prove Useless to Syria’s New Government

Dozens of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles supplied by Russia have turned out to be unnecessary for Syria’s new authorities.

Photos published by Welat TV at the end of November show armored vehicles of the former Syrian Arab Army gathered in one location.

More than a hundred T-62 tanks, IFVs, and other Soviet-made armored vehicles—supplied in particular by Russia over the past ten years—are now located at a site in Idlib Province.

Reports about the delivery of these and other armored vehicles were repeatedly made by the Russians themselves. In particular, at the beginning of 2017 it became known that the Syrian army had received T-62M tanks from Russia, which had been withdrawn from service in the Russian army and stored at reserve bases.

This modification differs from the basic version by the installation of additional turret armor and reinforced hull protection.

Tanks, as well as BMP-1s, were regularly delivered by sea to the Syrian port of Tartus, where a Russian naval base was also located.

The armored vehicles were supplied in order to replenish the losses of the government’s Syrian Arab Army. They were actively used in combat operations.

However, this did not save Assad’s regime from falling, which occurred on December 8, 2024, as a result of an offensive and the capture of the capital, Damascus. After that, Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia, where he was granted political asylum.

Weapons and military equipment remained at the bases of the government army, which came under the control of the new government.

Footage from this site was also published on social media.

كانت تلك الغنائم شاهدًا حيًا على صمود المقاتلين.
المعركة التي حولت منطقة محررة إلى قوة تفرض توازنًا جديدًا على الأرض.#لنكمل_الحكاية#عيد_التحرير #8Dec#شام_بلس pic.twitter.com/YgF7RUIGaz

— Cham Plus (@ChamPlus_) November 26, 2025

Over the past year, Syria’s new authorities have moved part of the Soviet-made equipment, including that supplied by Russia, to a single location for storage. It is currently unknown what awaits this equipment, and whether there are plans to return it to service.

In particular, Turkey supplied the Syrian Army in the summer with Cobra and Cadillac Gage Commando armored vehicles, which provide mobility and protection for personnel.