A video has emerged on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Telegram channels showing what is likely a reproduction of a Vietnam War-era lightweight artillery system being used against government-aligned forces in Idlib, Syria.

The video, uploaded on April 22 2023, shows the Direct Support Brigade of the organisation firing what appears to be a 106mm M40 Recoilless Rifle. The operation targeted pro-Assad forces in the Dadikh village/district. It is unclear how many casualties either side suffered.

The M40 recoilless rifle is a portable, lightweight anti-tank weapon that was developed by the United States in the 1950s. It was designed to be used by infantry units against enemy armoured vehicles and fortifications.

It is highly likely that the weapon in question may have originated from Iran. The Defence Industry Organisation, Iran’s state-owned weapons manufacturer, started producing what was originally a licensed version of the M40 recoilless rifle, now known as the “Anti-Tank Gun 106”. These weapons are available on the open market and have been supplied to the Syrian Arab Army, which may have subsequently lost them to rebel groups such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.