Syrian Airforce Unleashed

- Edited: December 9, 2012. Plead added june 3, 2014.
Syria Air force, SyAAF, MiG-21.MiG-23, L-39 Albatros, Su-22 and Su-24 bombardments.
Please notice: this is a layman's post. If you read it please don't skip the notes during and at the bottom of the post. Also before you decide what to think of my writings: please read through my latest post (plead added 03/06/2014).


Comments (December 5, 2012) and related posts:

The aim of this post - when I wrote it at the end of August 2012 - was to show some of the evidence of the escalating use of fixed wing air-crafts by the Syrian government air-force.
Since then aerial bombardments have escalated even further, and during September, October and November I have added more links and a few updates to the post, but this only represents a fraction of the recordings and reports, that have been uploaded, in this period.
During these months also a number of heavier aerial bombs have been more and more frequently video-reported: the fuel air (or vacuum) ODAB-500 bomb(see note), the general purpose FAB-500 bomb, the concrete penetration BetAB-500 bomb (all 500 kg bombs), the 250 kg RBK-250 cluster bomb in at least three variants (two with different seizes of high explosives bomblets and the most recent variant with incendiary bomblets). Also the incendiary ZAB 100-105 bomb has been identified in a video-reported.
Bombs like the OFAB 100-120 and OFAB 250-270 - before the escalation typically dropped by L-39 jets and helicopters respectively - have continued to be video-reported. So has the improvised helicopter dropped so-called barrel bombs.

Evidence of these bombs being used has been examined by Eliot Higgins on Brown Moses Blog in these posts: 
- Evidence Of New Incendiary Bombs Used In Syria (ZAB 100-105) 
- First Evidence Of Incendiary Submuntion Cluster Bombs Used In Syria 
- Selected Cluster Bomb Videos October 17th - 23rd 

by N.R. Jenzen-Jones on The Rogue Adventurer in these posts:
- Update: Cluster Munitions in Syria (ZAB-2.5 incendiary submunitions)
- ZAB-100-105 Incendiary Bombs in Syria

and in two posts on this blog:
- Evidence of large unguided Blast Bombs reported from Syria
- Fuel air bombs? Evidence from Talbiseh

Also relevant:
- The Weapons Of The Syrian Air Force

- Image comparison of BetAB-500

* note: the name "thermobaric" is sometimes used in relation to fuel-air bombs, but there are differences between what the two names are meant to describe. The difference has to do with the length of the delay between spreading of the fuel and its ignition. Thermobaric weapons do this immediately, fuel-air bombs usually have delays of between 0.1 - 5 seconds (Wikipedia uses "thermobaric" differently than what I here describe)(this is part of corrections regarding this made to this post 09/12/2012). 

Intro (August 30, 2012):

During the last month video reports have shown, that deployment of jets seems to have gone from being unseen to almost becoming the norm. This is mainly seen as a consequence of the government's forces loosing control of more and more areas, but to me the deployment of fixed wing air-crafts seems to have escalated beyond that. If so, this could either indicate a general increase in the brutality, or a step up in the difficulties for troops to move over land all over the country.

In this post I have collected some of the material that have come out from the different regions. If needed there is a map at the bottom of this post, where the main cities of the regions are marked.

* note: Except in a few cases I have not tried to verify this material, therefore locations and dates are those given by the uploaders. Models of air-crafts given in the texts are on my account (unless other is mentioned) and are to a large degree based on only having to distinguish between those models Syria is known (by Wikipedia) to operate. (added 30/08/2012 and 20/02/2013)


region: Deir Ez-Zour:

- Mohassan:

frame from video uploaded to R-Y-E Syria's YouTube channel 13/08/2012, (via @HamaEcho )

The first video-reports of fighter jets other than the L-39 (that I have seen) came out from Syria on August 13, 2012. And according to the reports they were from the area around Mohassan in the Deir Ez-Zour region of Eastern Syria. The recordings were all uploaded to the same Youtube channel and claimed to be of jets attacking the area. The jet in the frame above is from one of these videos and, and os showing a MiG-23, which shortly after was recorded catching fire - presumably hit by heavy machinegun fire (see frames below).

three frames from same video as above, uploaded to R-Y-E Syria's YouTube channel 13/08/2012. (via @HamaEcho )

The same channel also posted three videos showing MiG-21s (the first on the below list is a bit uncertain, but, from the context, I believe to be able to exclude other models).

two frames from video uploaded to R-Y-E Syria's YouTube channel 13/08/2012. (via @maikito0171)

video: showing a jet with a shape that matches a MiG-21
video: showing a jet that I believe to be a MiG-21 - frame above to the left.
video: a MiG-21 (identifiable at 0:10)

- MiG-21 in Wikipedia
.
video: first video showing a MiG-23 getting hit. (identifiable in the second video)
video: second video of the MiG-23 getting hit
video: clear view of underside of a MiG-23 - frame above to the right.
video: a MiG-23
video: said to show the captured pilot. 

- MiG-23 in Wikipedia

The tweeter @Nikopol5 sent me a couple of tweets about the MiG-23 that was shot down:

"...Point of interest. Those MiG-23s that appeared in the videos (and the one which was downed) are BN version." (12:29 PM - 18 Aug 12). 

The basis for the identification - according @Nikopol5 - is the absence of an air-to-air radar in the nose. If so, this would make it a ground attack variant of the MiG-23, which corresponds with the low altitude it is flying at during the video.

- Abu Kamal:

image sources: Left: frame from video on Omar Abu Lila YouTube Channel. Centre: this video on SyrianExile1 YouTube Channel. Right: this video on لواء الله أكبر YouTube Channel (via @Brown_Moses).

These videos are from the border area towards Iraq, which progressively have been taken over by the opposition forces. The videos are uploaded August 13th - 26th and the attacks are stated to have taken place from August 12th - 27th (see note 1).

video: smoke from explosion and sound of jet - frame above to the left.
video: showing damages after air strike - centre frame.
video: sub-munitions (or bomblets) from a cluster bomb - frame to the right.
video: sound of jet and visible smoke in the distance.

Blogger @Brown_Moses has more about the cluster munitions here.

* note 1: the video with the cluster munitions has August 26th as upload date, while the title states August 27th as the date of the attack. This could indicate some kind of falsehood, but I suspect it's a timezone issue.
* note 2: material about the August 13, 2012, MiG-23 shoot down have been moved to this section from another post (Syrian Airforce use of the L-39 Albatros) on December 5, 2012.
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region: Aleppo:

The arial attacks on Aleppo and the cities of that region have been widely documented. They have for a large part been done with the L-39 Albatros, which is a trainer jet that also have the capacity of being used as a light ground attack plane.

For more about this see the post 'Syrian Airforce use of the L-39 Albatros'. Also on this. blog.
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region: Idlib:

This area has been slipping from the governments military control since the beginning of the uprising, but with the opposition forces latest offensive in Aleppo, the importance of control of the roads leading to the West (Latakia) and South (Hama/Damascus) from Aleppo has become critical.
I see this as at least part of the reason why the cities in the South-Eastern part of the Idlib region - from following video reports - seem to have been particularly intensely targeted over the last couple of weeks.

The videos listed below are uploaded August 22 - 29th.

- Maarrat-an-Numan: 

image sources: Two frames from a video originally found on Freesyria2011free's YouTube Channel. Uploaded 29/08/2012. The video is now posted here.

video: Mig-21 dropping bomb, Maarrat-an-Numan, Idlib, Syria - frames above.

Maarrat-an-Numan is both the name of a city and of a large part of the Idlib governorate. The city is located along the strategically important M5 highway, but I can not say how fare from the city this attack came (if the video is authentic). 

- Kansaffra, Kaffar Ruma, Hich, Kafr Sejena, Ariha (Jerico) and Sarmin:

image sources: Left: frame from s video that's no longer posted (link & ID of jet via @Guardian_Mario). Centre: also from a video no longer posted. Right: this video. All videos were originally found on Freesyria2011free's YouTube channel, uploaded 23-24/08/2012.

video from Kansaffra: MiG-23 firing autocannon - left frame above.
video from Kaffar Ruma:MiG-21 over with visible anti air-craft fire - centre frame.

video from Hich: MiG-21 - frame above to the right.

video from Kafr Sejena: a fighter jet.

video from Ariha (Jerico): MiG-21.

There are also a number of video reports of helicopter attacks. I have linked to two of them here:

video from Sarmin: a Mil Mi 25.
video: a Mil Mi 25 over Ariha (Jerico)
* note: this linked-to video substitutes a video claimed to show a Mil Mi 25 over the Aleppo-Latakia Highway that was earlier linked to here, but which is no longer awailable.

thanks to @troublejee, @markito0171, @massdahl & @Guardian_Mario for links and help with locations and aircraft IDs.


Opposition Attack on Taftanaz Military Helicopter Base:

(added august 30th, 2012)
- Afis military air-base: reports have come out about an attack by opposition forces on a military air-base just South of Taftanaz in Idlib. This attack is claimed to have resulted in a number of destroyed helicopters:

@SyrianSmurf: 'Video showing a helicopter burning in the #Taftanaz airport. #Idlib #Syria [video-link]' (1:02 PM - 29 Aug 12)

On November 2, 2012, Afis air-base was attacked again. The recordings of the attack showed an increased ability on the opposition's side to deploy heavier weapons.
According to reports, the attack was halted after one or two days due to lack of ammunition. More about the attack on Brown Moses Blog and on this map marker-label.

A panorama of Afis helicopter base - computer generated by @Guardian_Mario from a YouTube video, uploaded on september 10th, 2012 (rotating and cropping are my responsibility).

High resolution stitched together panorama over looking the helicopter fleet of Afis on October 27, 2012. 

In early January 2013 the attack on the airbase was again intensified, and the base was declared taken on Jauary 11, 2013 (the actual date would probably have been late January 10.).
Some material about the attack is compiled here.


Taftanaz has been hit by heavy retaliation: 
(added 12/09/2012)
- Google Map marker-list of video-reports of attacks on Taftanaz around August 29, 2012.

Left: Su-24 releasing four bombs. Right: dust cloud rising from the explosion(s). Image source:  video on TAFTANAZ FREEDOM's YouTube Channel. Uploaded 15/11/2012.

By November 15, 2012, the use of air-force have been increased. In the frames above an Su-24 drops four bombs on Taftanaz (added 16/11/2012).


Opposition Attack on Abu Ad Duhour Military Air Base:
- Abu Ab Duhuor air-base: reports say that 10 jets were destroyed in an attack on the air-base on the night of August 29th, and that one jet that was shot down as it came to counter attack the opposition forces.

@troublejee: 'primary footage for downed jet [MT] @markito0171 #FSA downed MIG-Jet near airbase AbuDulhur base [video-link] ...' (11:46 AM - 30 Aug 12)

@troublejee: '[MT] vid of wreckage of downed MIG in Edlib today & from last night Air Base attack [video-link] #Syria ...' (12:35 PM - 30 Aug 12)

Depending on the damages done to the installations on those two bases, this will potentially change the situation significantly in the South-Eastern part of Idlib. 

The Abu Ad Duhour airbase was attacked earlier. A video-report uploaded in March 2012 shows an attack with an anti tank missile. I made a study of the attack back then, and I have updated the post with more material, recorded after the attacks/siege on the airbase started in late August. 

Video-report of downed MiG-21, September 4th: one more MiG-21 appears to have been shot down in Idlib. Brown Moses Blog has complied more material about the shoot down. (link via @Guardian_Mario, added 05/09/2012).


Aerial attack on Kafr Nabl:
(added 29/09/2012)
- Google Map marker-list: 19 video-reports with short descriptions of an attak on Kafr Nabl. The videos are uploaded on September 27th, and the titles indicate, that the attack took place on that date too.
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region: Hama:

I have not seen any video reports of fighter jets being used against Hama, but seemingly helicopters have used the Jabal Shahshabo area west of Hama city for testing and practicing dropping bombs. It was in this area the first video reports showed large (250 kg) free fall bombs of the OFAB 250-270 model. Also the first video reports of a case of use of cluster munitions came from this area.
For more about this see the relevant sections in the post "Hama"

Update, September 10th: Hama MIlitary Airport:

image sources: Left: frame from video. Right: this video. Both uploaded 04/09/2012 to syriasyrias1's YouTube channel.

I still haven't seen reports of attacks by jets at or around Hama, but Hama military airport is the main airbase in the Central Western part of Syria. I have taken a closer look in the post Hama Military Airport (the linked-to post include an aerial-study that was earlier part of this September 10th update).

Video: MiG-23 with landing gear extended flying over Hama (frame above to the left)
Video: MiG-21 coming towards and past the reporter (frame above to the right)

Update, September 30, 2012: video-reported aerial attack:
Video: MiG-21 making an attack. According to uploader the attack was on the village al-Masoud in the eastern Hama suburbs. Video uploaded September 29th, 2012.
* note: this video is no longer awailable, but here is another video from the same area, and from about the same time.
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region: Homs:

The city of Homs itself is probably the city, that - to date - have been hit the hardest by the government's military. So fare I have found no video reports documenting use of jets against this city, 'only' helicopters and drones. But such reports might still exist and if anyone can send me links it will be appreciated (by late January 2013, sadly, there was no longer any lack of such reports).

This post gives a glimpse of what the city of Homs has suffered (the air-force related part is the section about use of drones). 

Rastan:
- The city of Rastan together with Talbiseh was probably the first cites to be subjected to aerial attacks with jets. A series of videos, that came out from these cities on August 23th and the following days, show large explosions and craters that matches bombs like the OFAB 250-270. There are no visible planes in these videos, but some of them have the sound of jets, and as the use of jets have since been clearly documented, the reluctance to take these early reports as evidence have been reduced (for my part anyway).

This post contains a list of videos, said to document air strikes, is in the July 23. update.

Update, October 8, Rastan:
- a 8:50 min video report uploaded October 4, 2012. What appears to be an Su-22 taking 2 runs followed by recordings of a heavy artillery bombardment (see frames below).
Quality of the images makes it hard to be sure, whether this is an Su-22 or a MiG-23, but I think I see ridges on the top side of the wings (frame to the right). That would rule out the MiG-23. Also the general shape of the fuselage and of the tail seems to match the Su-22 better, but these shapes are harder to get a handle on.
The souce videos seems to be from this Rastan channel, and this video is the one with the clearest view of the jet. The original uploads state the date as October 3, 2012, and the location is supported by the two water towers, visible at 7:15 min in the edited video. I was not able to find identifiable landmarks to support the stated location during the two clips with jets. (later note: onward form around this time the Su-17/22 have been a common sight in video-reports)

two frames from a 8:50 min video report uploaded 04/10/2012 to Curse Thee YouTube channel.

Video on another Rastan channel: opposition fighter firing medium/light machingun at an attacking jet. Dated October 3, 2012.
Video on same channel as previous: opposition fighters firing at an attacking jet with a truck mounted NSV 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. Same date.

Update, October 15, Talbiseh:
- I have now also seen video-reports from Talbiseh showing aerial attacks by Su-22s.
The frames below are from videos stated to be from October 15. (left) and October 13. (right). In the frame to the left the plane is recorded dropping four bombs.
The combination of variable geometry wings aligned with the underside of the fuselage and "flat" nose to my knowledge makes the identification certain.

image sources: Left: frame from video . Right: this video . Both uploaded 13.& 15/10/2012 to talbisa h's YouTube channel.

It appears that the city is being targeted massively: More videos on the same channel show bombs or shells hitting the city, and also remains of a cluster bomb is being displayed.

Also related to aerial attacks on Talbiseh: Fuel air bombs? Evidence from Talbiseh
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region: Damascus / Rif Dimashq:

image sources: Left: frame from video . Right: this video . Both uploaded 28/08/2012 to fnnsyrianews's YouTube channel.

Use of jets against suburbs and surrounding cities like Yabroud and Zabadani also points to an escalation of the violence in and around the capital.

I have listed some videos here, but there are more to be found.

video from Yabroud: smoke cloud and possibly sound of jet.

video from Dumayr: explosion and sound of jets.

video from al-Ghouta: smoke cloud and a MiG-21 in the sky.

video from al-Ghouta: sound of jet, cut and then smoke cloud.
video from al-Ghouta: a MiG-21 followed by sound of explosion - frame above to the right.

video from Zamalka: diving jet, maybe a MiG-21.

video from Zamalka: jet, most likely a MiG-21.

video from Zamalka: a jet diving and firing rockets - left frame above.

Video from East Ghouta: an Su-22 passing over head. Uploaded 2/11/2012.
Video from East Ghouta: an Su-22 diving. Flashes - likely from anti aircraft tracer projectiles - and flares releashed. Uploaded 25/10/2012.
 
Video from Irbin: a MiG-21 passing over head. Uploaded 27/10/2012.
Video from Irbin: a MiG-23 passing over head. Uploaded 18/10/2012. 

Video from Qaboun: a jet (possibly an Su-22) passing over head. Uploaded 28/10/2012. 

Left: a MiG-23 dropping a bomb. Right: the bomb matches a parachute-retarded ODAB-500 fuel-air bomb. Image source: frames from video, uploaded 03/12/2012 to LiveLeak  (via @cencio4).

Video from Darayya: a MiG-23 dropping what looks like an ODAB-500 fuel-air bomb. Uploaded 03/12/2012. Date according to uploader: November 30, 2012.
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region: Daraa:

I haven't followed the development in this area as much as that in the North-Western part of the country. But Daraa was where the first protests were ignited in the beginning of 2011.

The two videos below both show damages that are stated to have been caused by aerial bombardments. I can not say for certain that this is the case, but the crater in the frame to the left is very similar to those caused by large free fall bombs.

- Daal:

image sources: Left: frame from this video . Right: from this video. Both were originally found uploaded on 24/08/2012 to Souria2011archives's YouTube Channel, but are now found on other channels.

video from Daal: large crater in the street [ site of the crater ] (link is to a re-upload with Aleppo as stated location in the title).

video from Daal: people struggling to rescue victims after air strike (this video has since been taken down).
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Some relevant material:

The lovcations of the main cities of the regions mentioned in this post.
 This was by late August 2012, and does not pretend to cover all affected regions and cities, only to help with the understanding of the geography.
The red line marks the M5 highway (I originally edited the map for a post pointing to the importance that route places on Central Western cities like Homs, Rastan and Hama). Source for underlying map: Google Maps

An interactive map with cases of downed aerial vehicles (link added 17/10/2012).

An interactive map of Syrian airbases (not sure if they are all there) (link added 29/09/2012).

This interview (in Russian but readable with Google Translate) with the deputy director for emergence programs for Human Rights Watch Anna Neistat (@AnnaNeistat), seems relevant to understanding the extend and kind of deployment of air-forces by the government. The article also contains a very useful map (link via @Jugend75, added 31/08/2012).

In this blog-post, that springs form recent sightings of shoulder lanuched anti aircraft missiles in opposition hands, New York Times journalist, C.J. Chivers, shares his views - and links to more - on, why the general conditions are working against the government air-force as well as it's army (link added 02/09/2012).
* note: it was a mistake by me to state someone else's motive (note added 06/06/2014).

The blog Luftwaffe A.S has it's focus on ME air-forces, and have a large number of fine SyAAF (Syrian Arab Air Force) posts.

Blog-post with listing of Syrian air-bases and the air-crafts stationed there (before 2011). The post also have links to mapped locations of the bases and to photos of the listed air-craft models. (added 22/02/2013).

Wikipedias list of Syrian Air-force Aircraft Inventory - models and numbers of aircrafts.
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Related posts:
- The Weapons Of The Syrian Air Force
- Update: Cluster Munitions in Syria (ZAB-2.5 incendiary submunitions)
- Syria Unleashes Cluster Bombs on Town, Punishing Civilians
- HD Video of a Syrian Mig-23 attacking Darayya with unguided 500-kg thermobaric bomb
- Fuel-air bombs? Evidence from Talbiseh
- Evidence of large unguided Blast Bombs reported from Syria
- Syrian Airforce use of the L-39 Albatros 

- all corrections and suggestions are welcome - either as post-comments or @ my twitter acount.
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Fuel-air bombs? Evidence from Talbiseh

ODAB-500: Fuel air bomb, vacuum bomb, sometimes called thermobaric weapon. Video sources from Syria analysed. Russian origin.
(safety section added and also some editing December 09, 2012) 
Syrian air force (SyAAF) use of fuel air bombs. sometimes called vacuum bombs (or, mistakenly, thermobaric weapons).
Please notice: this is a layman's post. If you read it please don't skip the notes during and at the bottom of the post. Also before you decide what to think of my writings: please read through my latest post (plead added 03/06/2014).

On August 6th a series of videos were uploaded to talbisah's YouTube channel. They were said to be from the town Talbiseh between Homs and Rastan in Central Western Syria. Especially one of the videos in which two falling bombs can be seen got a lot of attention in the days after(see note 1). It was @felimmcmahon from Storyful who brought the videos to my attention, and I have been trying to look into what kind of bombs might have been used here.

Left frame: the first bomb that fell. Right frame: the second bomb. Image source: video uploaded to talbisah's YouTube Channel 06/08/2012.

the vertical lines mark where the bombs fell. Source: same video as above, uploaded to talbisah's YouTube Channel 06/08/2012

To be able to compare the impact positions with the blast, I have marked the paths of the two bombs with vertical lines (images above), and from that study it appears, that the main blast comes from where the bomb to the left hit. This makes me think that possibly the other bomb didn't detonate as intended.

Some of those who have seen the video have suggested that the bombs are slowed down by some kind of parachute. It is also being suggested that the bombs are so called fuel-air bombs (or vacuum bombs). From what I've read fuel-air bombs works by first spraying its explosive liquid (fuel) into the air at the target area, and then igniting it. This causes an explosion that doesn't have the initial intensity of "usual" high explosive filled bombs, but the sprayed fuel has a much larger volume when it ignites, and since it uses oxygen from the surrounding air to burn explosively, the overall effect of fuel-air bombs is larger than high explosive filled bombs of the same weight (see note 2). 

I do not have the information as to how this particular model sprays its fuel, but the spraying is often done by an explosive charge placed in the central axis tube of the bomb. The ignition will typically be timed to be activated some 0.15 sec after the burst charge has dispersed the fuel (added 09/12/2012).

The images below are from a video that in my understanding should be showing the damages of the attack seen in the previous frames. I have not been able to document this, but for several reasons I find this source credible. Also since I find it documented that the video is from a war-zone, and unlikely not to be from Syria, then, even if the video should turn out not to be from Talbiseh, studying the object in the image  below seems relevant.

a frame from this video upoladed to talbisah's YouTube Channel 06/08/2012.

The object in the frame above appears to have crashed through the reinforced concrete roof  before crashing on the floor of the room. This would be consistent with being dropped from an aerial vehicle, and also with being the one of the two bombs that didn't explode.

Assuming it is a bomb; when comparing it to free fall fragmentation bombs like the OFAB 250-270 the tail looks different. The tail on this object looks like a large tube, and what I believe to be one of the fins can be seen to the left in the left frame below. The main body of the bomb also seems to have walls that are much thinner that the OFABs.

three frames from the same video as above, uploaded to talbisah's YouTube Channel 06/08/2012.

All those differences and the hollow main body of the object first made me think of a canister for cluster bombs, but that does not seem to be the case. Instead, as mentioned earlier, fuel air bombs were suggested. And when a particular model of these was pointed to as a possibility the details started to fit. The model is called ODAB-500 and can be seen in the images below.
By comparison to the video frames its overall size looks right. The tail looks right too (and the reason for it being built around the large tube is that is contains a small parachute). Also the nose has the right shape, and when looking closer it also has the same kind of metal band around the foot of the nose.

I'm not sure what the black component in the centre frame above is - or if it's even from the (supposed) bomb, but the hollow space and the thin walls of the main body (behind the black component) corresponds with the ODAB-500 too.

mage and drawing of an ODAB-500. Image sources: Left: Wikipedia commons. Right: image posted on valka.cz. Thanks to @Jugend75 for mentioning the ODAB-500 as a possibility. * note of 17/08/2012: from what I read there are two models of ODAB-500: an ODAB-500PM and an ODAB-500PMV. In this illustration the model to the left (as I understand it) is an ODAB-500PMV with the fins of the tail exceeding the diameter of the "tail-metal-band". The drawing to the right could look like being of an ODAB-500PM with the fins circumscribed by the "tail-metal-band". The two models seems to be compared on this page.

All in all I find this a quite convincing match. The uncertainty that remains relates to the fact that the match is made on the basis of an unverified video. I'll leave it to the readers to decide on whether or not to find it credible.

Finally a little extra detail: later in the video, with the supposed unexploded ODAB-500, some metal fragments are shown (outside in the street). These fragments could look like being from an OFAB bomb(see note 3). If that is the case they could very well be from an earlier attack, but never the less I feel like quoting something that was mentioned by Vadim Naninets (aka @Jugend75):

"during Soviet war in Afghanistan ODAB-500 were reported as one of the most unreliable munitions - due to fuze failure only 15 - 50 % of the bombs dropped detonated. Thus, the typical method was to combine dropping of 3 ODAB-500 with 1 HE bomb like FAB-250 or FAB-500 - just to secure combustion of ODABs air fuel mix. Sometimes the following plane launched several S-8 unguided rockets at ODABs impact area with the same purpose - just to secure combustion." (Vadim Naninets has told me that his source for this information is a book by Victor Markovsky with the title "Hot skies of Afghanistan")

But so fare that is only a thought.

Video uploaded August 16: A collection of ordnance fragments in Tabliseh. Among many other types of expended munitions there is one that looks like from an ODAB-500.

three frames from video uploaded to talbisah's YouTube channel on 16/08/2012. (link via @HamaEcho). - to study details use zoom (cmd +) after clicking the image.

It could be the same as in the video uploaded on August 6th, but notice the compartmentalization of the room of the main body (centre frame). In the August 6th video it looks like the dividers have moved to the front, but I can not exclude that they have been moved back in position before being put on display for this new video.

But whether or not this is of the same bomb, this video makes it possible to - in part - find an explanation for the component in the centre frame three images up. It can be seen that it is originally placed somewhere inside the tail-tube (right frame above), and I assume its purpose is to in some way take part in the spraying or/and igniting of the explosive fluid of the bomb.
What can also be seen is some kind of electronic installation in the nose of the bomb (left frame). This could be for controlling and timing the spraying and the following ignition. (section expanded 04/09/2012 and some change made 09/12/2012). 

Update August 16:
A series of tweets by ‪@HamaEcho seems to be relevant to this post:‬

‪@HamaEcho: ‬Massive bomb landed on Jabal Shahshabo, ‪#Hama‬ ‪http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4HIizbzzFU …‬ Plain fields shelled heavily for months now, for no reason. ‪#Syria‬ (3:32 PM - 16 Aug 12)

@HamaEcho: #previoustweet The bombs are dropped on the fields not the villages for some reason, it's also the first area where cluster bombs were used. (3:38 PM - 16 Aug 12)

@HamaEcho‬: ‪#previoustweet I think it's just for testing before these weapons are used in other areas, but why don't these f****** use empty land? (3:43 PM - 16 Aug 12)

I have taken some frames from the linked-to video: 

three frames from video uploaded to ابو رشيد 's YouTube channel 16/08/2012.

This seemingly unexploded bomb in many ways resembles the one reported from Tabliseh, but I actually get the impression this one is of a larger model. Therefore I have made a quick search, and in this document there is a mentioning of both an ODAB-750 and an ODAB-1100(mistake!: see note 4).
I consider it a possibility that what is shown in the video is from one of these larger sizes. If so, that could be the reason for having to make tests or practice at this time(see note 5).

But - larger or not - in the frame above to the right, a component can be seen in the upper left corner. I believe this is the same type of component, that I, in relation to the August 16th video, suggest, as having to do with spraying and/or igniting of the explosive fluid. (section expanded 04/09/2012, some change made 09/12/2012).

Update August 21:
A video uploaded August 20th: this video shows an object that could - as the title says - be a thermobaric rocket. The video is blurred, and there is no objects in the frame that I am able to use as measure-references, but I will estimate the diameter of the object to be around 20 centimetres. This could make it a 220 mm rocket for the TOS-1 Buratino multiple rocket launcher. Or something similar.

* comment: the video linked to in this section has been removed by the uploader. But to clarify: this was a big maybe, and since this report, I have seen no cases of rockets larger than grads (except a more recent mentioning of a 333 mm maybe-Iranian system). At the time, someone thought the object, claimed-to-be a rocket, was instead a helicopter fuel tank, which had been dropped. The shape - In my view - didn't quite match, but the possibility, that something was being mistaken for a weapon should also be included) (comment added 04/12/2012).

Update October 19 - November 25:

Left: releashing flares. Centre: bomb dropped (bottom of frame). Right: the falling bomb. image source: video originally uploaded to SHAMSNN's YouTube channel 17/10/2012.

A video of an aerial attack: an Su-22 attack jet looks like it's releashing flares as it drops a bomb. The bomb looks like a parachute retarded bomb. The explosion is for the main part covered by bushes, but the flash could resemble what is seen in the video from Talbiseh.
* note: this video has since been taken down.

Video uploade September 15: fragments at 0:40 matches ODAB fragments. Location is stated as Bashqatin, about 12 km West of Aleppo (link via @Brown_Moses, added 06/11/2012). 

Another video uploaded October 17: fragments that resembles those of an ODAB-500. The title states the location as Kafr Sejena in Idlib (link via @JMiller, added 30/10/2012). 

Video uploaded October 30: remnants of an ODAB. The title states the location as Deir Ez-Zour, and from sampling the YouTube channel it is uploaded to it seems that the channel is based in that city. (link via @Brown_Moses, added 06/11/2012). 

Photo of an unexploded ODAB-500: according to the source the location is Aleppo. Date is unknown. (added 06/11/2012). 

Remnants of an ODAB including of the parachute: according to the title the location is Taftanaz, Idlib. Uploaded November 7, 2012.(link via @Brown_Moses). 

Remnants of the body of an ODAB: according to title the location is Deir Ez-Zour. Uploaded October 31, 2012.

More remnants of ODABs: remains of an ODAB, laying in a room. Seemingly entered through the roof. The location mentioned in the title is Deir Ez-Zour and the upload date is November 21, 2012.

An ODAB-500 being dropped by a MiG-23: according to the video title at Darayya - a Southern Damascus suburb - on November 30, 2012.

A thought maybe-to-be a case of multiple ODABs*: Krak des Chevaliers, Homs. Videos uploaded January 4, 2013.
* note: by March 2013, I find it more likely, that the bombs used in this attack was something different than fuel-air bombs.
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- Caution: several of the munitions in these videos are UXOs (unexploded ordnance). This means that they still contains explosives which makes it very dangerous to handle them, and this should only be done by professionals. Therefore please notice the ARMS guidelines: 

- Avoid the area 
- Record all relevant information 
- Mark the area to warn others 
- Seek assistance from the relevant authorities

- Specific warning about fuel-air bombs: even if these bombs are broken and the fuel have leaked, they can still hold a deadly bursting charge as well as one or more ignition charges. Handling remains of these bombs - as seen in some of the videos of this post - is potentially lethal, and should be avoided.
The fuel if leaked or leaking also represents potential healths hazards both due to being flammable and due to unknown level of toxicology. These are additional reasons to stay away from these bombs, to avoid contact with the fuel and to avoid smoking or other use of fire anywhere near them. 

The above warnings are to give an idea of the kind of dangers these bombs represent, if you should ever happen to encounter one yourself, or if you should be contacted by someone who has, please seek more guidance. Also see the below links:

- Download-link for Technical Note for Mine Action (pdf-file)
- link to print-out warning flags in English and Arabic from R.R.M.A.

..

* note 1: I refer to the falling objects as bombs, but this is not absolutely certain. Theoretically the video could be manipulated or the explosion that occurs as the second falling object hits could be from something else.
* note 2: the term "thermobaric" is often used to describe fuel-air bombs. But thermobaric bombs/warheads does not work in the same way as fuel-air bombs. By comparison the fuel-air bombs have their fuel spreading for a longer time before igniting it. The term "vacuum bomb" is also sometimes used. From what I've read, this term should fit better with the characteristics of the fuel-air bomb than with thermobaric weapons. This note was put in when I corrected the section of the text to match this fuel-air/thermobaric destinction (added 09/12/2012).
* note 3: after re-viewing the video material I find it less likely that the fragments shown in the street are from an OFAB bomb (but still, the information about the (un-)reliability of the ODAB-500 remains relevant to getting an idea of what kind of a weapon that might have been used here)(added 15/08/2012).
* note 4: after having looked for more information of ODABs larger than the ODAB-500, I have become uncertain if my reading of the linked to passage (that mention ODAB-750 and ODAB-1100) is correct, and I have found no other mentioning. Therefore the linked-to text can not be taken as a confirmation of my impressions. However, given the reported history, I still find the testing/practice thesis likely, but I'll not try to come up with other reasons as to why this could be the case here(added 17/08/2012).
* note 5: the tail fins of this model too exceed the diameter of the metal band of the tail, which - if it is a 500 kg model - in my understanding will make it an ODAB-500PMV(added 20/08/2012).
* general note: this is not an expert analysis, rather it's a presentation of primarily visual observations. Please apply you own judgement.


related posts on this blog:
- Syrian Airforce Unleashed
- Syrian airforce use of the L-39 Albartos
- Hama
- Rastan
- weapons used on Homs
- mortar position, Homs
- Syria: Local photo sources

The latest on Twitter: search 'Fuel-air bombs'. search 'Thermobaric'.

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NB: since January 2013 there have been a number of video-reports showing jets dropping parachute retarded bombs, that I suspect to be of a different type. However, I have not seen any identification of the bombs used in these cases. The case from Krak des Chevalier linked to further up could belong to this group (added april 10, 2013).
By April 14, 2013, a post on Brown Moses blog looks at some possible models.
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- all comments and corrections are welcome - either as comments here or @ my twitter acount.