On May 17, Sputnik released a video showing a unit of the Tiger Forces launching several heavy Zilzal improvised rocket-assisted munition (IRAMs) at the remaining Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) positions in northern Hama.
According to the Russian news agency, the Zilzal IRAM has a range of 1,5km. Experts believe that the variant shown in the video is armed with a 250kg thermobaric warhead.
“Zilzal was developed to be used against positions, fortifications and tranches on the frontlines during close combat, which explain why it was not equipped with a guidance system,” Sputnik’s report reads.
The Tiger Forces are currently leading the Russian-backed military operation in northern Hama. The elite forces are led by Brig. Gen. Suheil al-Hassan, nicknamed The Tiger.
In the last few days, the Tiger Forces secured many settlements in northwestern Hama. However, the advance stopped in the last 24 hours, likely to facilitate the recent prisoners exchange deal with HTS.
