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Image: SYRIA-CONFLICT

Mideast

Car parts, scrap metal: DIY weapons in Syria

With Western countries reluctant to arm the opposition forces, a cottage industry has sprung up to supply Syrian opposition fighters with ammunition for the battlefield, using whatever materials are available.

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Image: SYRIA-CONFLICT

A man works on an improvised weapon to be used by rebel fighters at a factory in the city of Aleppo, Syria's commercial capital, on July 7, 2013. Syria's 27-month war between rebel forces and pro-government troops has killed more than 100,000 people, a monitoring group group estimates. AFP PHOTO/JM LOPEZ (Photo credit should read JM LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
— Afp / AFP
Image: Free Syrian Army fighters sit on a roof of a building as one of them prepares a homemade bomb in Deir al-Zor

Free Syrian Army fighters sit on a roof of a building as one of them prepares a homemade bomb in Deir al-Zor, eastern Syria November 20, 2013. Picture taken November 20, 2013. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT MILITARY)
— Khalil Ashawi / X03289
Rebel fighters using home-made weapons in the Bustan al-Qaser neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria, on Oct. 15, 2013.

Rebel fighters using home-made weapons in the Bustan al-Qaser neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria, on Oct. 15, 2013.
— Farouk Al-halabi
Image: A fighter from the Tawhid Brigade, which operates under the Free Syrian Army, prepares homemade rockets to be thrown towards the 80th Brigade base in Aleppo

A fighter from the Tawhid Brigade, which operates under the Free Syrian Army, prepares homemade rockets to be thrown towards the 80th Brigade base in Aleppo, controlled by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, November 11, 2013. Syrian forces backed by Lebanese Hezbollah militants recaptured an army base in northern Syria from rebels on Sunday, the third day of heavy fighting for the strategic military target which has changed hands three times since Friday. State media and activists said Assad's forces were in full control of the 80th Brigade base, which lies just a few hundred meters (yards) north of Aleppo airport on the eastern edge of the disputed city. Picture taken November 11, 2013. REUTERS/Molhem Barakat (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) CONFLICT)
— Stringer / X80002
Image: Free Syrian Army fighter lights homemade grenade before launching it on catapult before in direction of forces loyal to President al-Assad in Aleppo

A Free Syrian Army fighter lights a homemade grenade before launching it on a catapult before in the direction of forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo's Karm al-Jabal district October 28, 2013. REUTERS/Saad Abobrahim (SYRIA - Tags: CONFLICT CIVIL UNREST POLITICS)
— Saad Abobrahim / X03296
Image: Combination photo of members of the Free Syrian Army using a catapult to launch a homemade bomb during clashes with pro-government soldiers in the city of Aleppo

Combination photo of members of the Free Syrian Army using a catapult to launch a homemade bomb during clashes with pro-government soldiers in the city of Aleppo, October 15, 2012. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
— Asmaa Waguih / X02458
Image: A Free Syrian Army fighter makes improvised mortar shells at a weapons factory in Aleppo

A Free Syrian Army fighter makes improvised mortar shells at a weapons factory in Aleppo, September 4, 2013. REUTERS/Hamid Khatib (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
— Stringer / X80002
Image: A Syrian rebel with hands coated with an aluminum-based ingredient while preparing a homemade bomb.

like make-up for a sci-fi movie from the 70s, this rebels' hands shine in the sun after mixing an Aluminium based ingredient to home-made explosives in a location in northern Syria. like make-up for a sci-fi movie from the 70s, this rebels' hands shine in the sun after mixing an Aluminium like make-up for a sci-fi movie from the 70s, this rebels' hands shine in the sun after mixing an Aluminium based ingredient to home-made explosives in a location in northern Syria.based ingredient to home-made explosives in a location in northern Syria.
— Ghazi Balkiz
Image: A member of the 'Ansar Dimachk' Brigade which operates under the Free Syrian Army uses an iPad during preparations to fire a homemade mortar in Jobar

A member of the 'Ansar Dimachk' Brigade, part of the 'Asood Allah' Brigade which operates under the Free Syrian Army, uses an iPad during preparations to fire a homemade mortar at one of the battlefronts in Jobar, Damascus September 15, 2013. REUTERS/ Mohamed Abdullah (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
— Mohamed Abdullah / X03285
Image: SYRIA-CONFLICT-WEAPONS

A young man works on the production of hand made missiles in a secret factory on January 19, 2013 in Al-Bab, 30 kilometers from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo. Recycled or non explosed bombs recolted after shellings are used for the manufacturing and sugar as well for the propulsion. Each day, nearly 50 missiles are assembled for the Abu baker Brigade. AFP PHOTO/EDOUARD ELIAS (Photo credit should read EDOUARD ELIAS/AFP/Getty Images)
— Afp / AFP
Rebel fighters using home-made weapons in the Bustan al-Qaser neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria, on Oct. 15, 2013.

Rebel fighters using home-made weapons in the Bustan al-Qaser neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria, on Oct. 15, 2013.
— Farouk Al-halabi
Image: SYRIA-CONFLICT-REBELS-ARMS

A Syrian rebel uses a control stick to activate the machinegun of Sham II, a homemade armoured vehicle made by the rebels' Al-Ansar brigade, in Bishqatin, 4 kms west of Aleppo, on December 8, 2012. From a distance it looks rather like a big rusty metal box but closer inspection reveals the latest achievement of Syrian rebels: a homemade armoured vehicle waiting to be deployed. Sham II, named after ancient Syria, is built from the chassis of a car and touted by rebels as \"100 percent made in Syria.\" AFP PHOTO/HERVE BAR (Photo credit should read HERVE BAR/AFP/Getty Images)
— Afp / AFP
Image: Free Syrian Army fighters spray paint on an improvised mortar shell at a weapon factory in Aleppo

Free Syrian Army fighters spray paint on an improvised mortar shell at a weapon factory in Aleppo September 5, 2013. REUTERS/Hamid Khatib (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
— Stringer / X80002
Image: Fighters from the Tawhid Brigade, which operates under the Free Syrian Army, drag a rocket launcher near the 80th Brigade base in Aleppo

Fighters from the Tawhid Brigade, which operates under the Free Syrian Army, drag a rocket launcher near the 80th Brigade base in Aleppo November 13, 2013. Syrian forces backed by Lebanese Hezbollah militants recaptured an army base in northern Syria from rebels on Sunday, the third day of heavy fighting for the strategic military target which has changed hands three times since Friday. State media and activists said Assad's forces were in full control of the 80th Brigade base, which lies just a few hundred meters (yards) north of Aleppo airport on the eastern edge of the disputed city. REUTERS/Molhem Barakat (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
— Molhem Barakat / X80002
Image: A Free Syrian Army fighter throws a homemade mortar in Deir al-Zor

A Free Syrian Army fighter throws a homemade mortar in Deir al-Zor October 10, 2013. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
— Stringer / X80002
Image: Free Syrian Army fighters fire a homemade mortar from Maaret al-Naaman town towards the Wadi al-Deif military base, where forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad are located, in Idlib

Free Syrian Army fighters fire a homemade mortar from Maaret al-Naaman town towards the Wadi al-Deif military base, where forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad are located, in Idlib November 18, 2013. Picture taken November 18, 2013. REUTERS/Houssam Abo Dabak (SYRIA - Tags: CIVIL UNREST MILITARY POLITICS CONFLICT)
— Stringer / X80002
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