Weapons of ISIS - Islamic State Infantry Weapons, Vehicles and Artillery

Formed from a collection of rag-tag forces, ISIS went on to make considerable gains in both Iraq and Syria before a coalition forced its retreat.

ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria - also Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant = ISIL) took regional military observers and governments by surprise when it worked its way from individual terrorist groups into a single, effective fighting force. From there, the group went on to capture swaths of territory throughout Iraq and Syria, attempting to recreate an Islamic kingdom with old world ideals. Iraqi and Syrian government forces initially accomplished little to stem the tide and this was worsened by the vacuum left by American forces having left Iraq.

While ISIS lacked any sort of traditional air power, it laid claim to stocks Iraqi-owned Soviet-, Chinese-, and American-originated equipment. The result was a ragtag group of fighters with an equally rag-tag collection of weapons offering tactical flexibility against better organized foes. Despite coalition air strikes against positions and money-making sources, ISIS remained a threat to the stability of the region with its war against the West threatening to pull even more players into it before the end.

In 2017, the tide turned and Syrian and Iraqi forces, heavily backed by foreign coalition sponsors, forced the enemy on the retreat leaving remaining ISIS components to resort to a whole new level of desperation (human shields, mass executions).

Flag images indicative of country of origin. The entries displayed below have been compiled by way of identification from available ISIS-related imagery / video.

Thumbnail picture of the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank

M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank
One or two of these more modern combat tanks are believed to have been captured from the Iraqi Army by ISIS.

Thumbnail picture of the German Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank

Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank
Again, one or two of these modern tanks are believed to have been captured - though from Turkey in Syria - by ISIS.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet T-72 Main Battle Tank

T-72 Main Battle Tank
Its mass availability in the region means that at least a few of these steel beasts have been taken on by ISIS forces.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet T-62 Main Battle Tank

T-62 Main Battle Tank
An evolved form of the earlier classic T-54/T-55 Soviet MBT series, the T-62 found its way into the Iraq Army inventory and an unknown number were operated by ISIS.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet T-55 Main Battle Tank

T-55 Main Battle Tank
Another Soviet-era mainstay of the Iraqi Army became the T-55 - again captured examples being reconstituted by ISIS forces.

Thumbnail picture of the 2S1 Gvozdika self-proplled howitzer vehicle

2S1 Gvozdika Self-Propelled Howitzer
A handful of these Soviet-era self-propelled tracked howitzers were known to have entered the ISIS inventory.

Thumbnail picture of the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier

M113 Armored Personnel Carrier
Worldwide circulation of this American classic - coupled with a rebuilding, post-invasion Iraqi Army - meant that the M113 has found its way to Iraq - and later ISIS.

Thumbnail picture of the Turkish FNSS ACV-15 Armored Personnel Carrier

FNSS ACV-15 Armored Personnel Carrier
Another Turkish Army stalwart, the FNSS ACV-15 APC, has been taken on - in few numbers - by ISIS fighting forces.

Thumbnail picture of the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle

BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle
The large Iraqi Army of the pre-war period relied upon thousands of armored vehicles including the Soviet-originated BMP-1.

Thumbnail picture of the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle

BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle
The Iraqi Army also procured the then-modernized version of the BMP-1 in the Soviet-era BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

Thumbnail picture of the MT-LB multipurpose tracked vehicle

MT-LB Multirole Tracked Vehicle
With over 12,000 of its kind produced during the Cold War, the Iraqi government was sure to procure the Soviet MT-LB for its mechanized forces.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet ZSU-23-4 Shilka air defense vehicle

MZSU-23-4 (Shilka) SPAA Vehicle
The Soviet-era ZSU-23-4 can still cause considerable damage to low-flying aircraft - ISIS forces were seen parading these vehicles.

Thumbnail picture of the SA-6 Gainful tracked surface-to-air missile launcher

2K12 Kub (SA-6 "Gainful") SAM Carrier
At least one SA-6 Gainful surface-to-air missile carrier vehicle was known to have fallen into ISIS hands.

Thumbnail picture of the SS-1 SCUD battlefield missile carrier

9P117 (SS-1 SCUD) Carrier
What appeared to be a SCUD missile was paraded through a Syrian town suggesting ISIS may have gained a limited ballistic missile capability.

Thumbnail picture of the M1117 Guardian ASC armored security vehicle

M1117 Guardian Security Vehicle
The Iraqi Army and local security forces took on stocks of the American M1117 Armored Security Vehicle - later falling under ISIS control.

Thumbnail picture of the Cougar MRAP vehicle

Cougar MRAP Vehicle
Developed for the U.S. Army specifically for actions in Iraq, MRAPs also formed a portion of the American "parting gifts" to the Iraqis following the U.S. troop drawdown.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet BRDM-2 amphibious scout car

BRDM-2 Scout Car
At least six of these lightly-armored amphibious scout cars have been claimed by ISIS combatants.

Thumbnail picture of the Polish AMZ Dzik Infantry Mobility Vehicle

AMZ Dzik Security Vehicle
Numbers of the Polish AMZ Dzik Infantry Mobility Vehicle were known to have passed from Iraqi Army control to ISIS forces.

Thumbnail picture of the Turkish Okokar Cobra Wheeled Infantry Mobility Vehicle

Otokar Cobra IMV
Turkish involvement in the Syrian Civil War has inevitably led to some of its vehicles being captured by enemy forces.

Thumbnail picture of the HUMVEE multi-purpose military vehicle

HMMWV Multirole Vehicle
The United States committed large quantities of its multi-purpose HUMVEEs to the Iraqi military and security forces - later to fall to ISIS.

Thumbnail picture of the HUMVEE M114 Up-Armored Humvee vehicle

M1114 Up-Armored HUMVEE
An unknown number of "Up-Armored Humvee" vehicles were taken over by ISIS forces during their various conquests.

Thumbnail picture of the Technical Truck improvised fighting vehicle

Technical
The versatile "Technical" improvised fighting vehicle remained the backbone of ISIS forces, allowing for fast-attack and overwhelming actions against its foes.

Thumbnail picture of the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement

MTVR Military Truck
American forces left hundreds of their tactical trucks in the employ of the Iraqi Army - some fell to ISIS forces during the various Iraqi retreat actions.

Thumbnail picture of the M198 155mm towed artillery gun

155mm M198 Towed Howitzer
Another American weapon to have fallen into ISIS hands is the effective 155mm M198 towed medium howitzer system providing much-needed ranged firepower.

Thumbnail picture of the Chinese Type 59 130mm towed field gun

130mm Type 58 Towed Gun
This Chinese entry is a copy of the Soviet-era M-46 130mm field gun - cheaper and readily-available for foreign customers (like Iraq).

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet ZPU-1 anti-aircraft system

14.5mm ZPU-1 AA Gun
While generally outclassed as an AA gun, the ZPU-1 series remains an effective performer against unprotected targets and as an anti-armor / anti-personnel weapon.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet ZU-23 anti-aircraft system

23mm ZU-23-2 / ZU-23 AA Gun
The 23mm cannons of this AA system make it an ideal weapon against low-flying aircraft. Like the ZPU-1, it can also be brought to bear against light-armored vehicles.

Thumbnail picture of the FIM-92 Stinger surface-to-air missile system

FIM-92 "Stinger" SAM
An unknown number of FIM-92 "Stinger" man-portable surface-to-air missile systems were captured by ISIS - a serious threat to low-flying coalition aircraft.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade anti-tank weapon

RPG-7 Anti-Tank Weapon
Yet another Soviet-originated weapon that proliferated the region is the timeless RPG-7 - a still-effective anti-armor solution requiring little training to use.

Thumbnail picture of the Yugoslavian M79 Osa shoulder-fired anti-tank rocket launcher

M79 OSA (Wasp) Anti-Tank Weapon
Numbers of this Yugoslavian product were witnessed in ISIS hands and form a perfect ambush weapon against unsuspecting enemy tanks.

Thumbnail picture of the Hughes BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile system

BGM-71 TOW/TOW-2 Anti-Tank
This tank-killer was passed on to Free Syrian Army forces which, in turn, meant some may have been fallen to ISIS providing them with a means to combat armor.

Thumbnail picture of the Chinese NORINCO HJ-8 anti-tank guided missile weapon

NORINCO HJ-8 Anti-Tank
Another ISIS weapon courtesy of Chinese factories was the NORINCO HJ-8 series of Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) systems.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet NSV Utes heavy machine gun

NSV Utes Heavy Machine Gun
The Soviet influence in the Middle East ran for decades meaning that many of the available arms seen today with ISIS are Soviet in origin.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet DShK Model 1938 heavy machine gun

DShK Model 1938 HMG
This pre-World War 2 Soviet heavy machine gun still permeates regions of the Middle East - thus making it readily accessible for ISIS.

Thumbnail picture of the Nazi German MG42 General Purpose Machine Gun

MG42 GPMG
This German World War 2 classic was acquired by ISIS forces by overtaking existing Syrian stockpiles.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet PKM General Purpose Machine Gun

PKM GPMG
With over 1 million examples produced, the Soviet-made PKM also found a home in the Iraq Army inventory.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet RPD Light Machine Gun

RPD Light Machine Gun
The RPD appeared at the close of World War 2 (1939-1945) and has somehow managed to maintain a presence on the battlefields of the Middle East.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet RPK Light Machine Gun

RPK Light Machine Gun
For portable firepower and general suppression of enemy forces, look no further than the RPK of Soviet-era design. Such weapons still hold a battlefield role in the region.

Thumbnail picture of the M240 Medium Machine Gun

M240 Medium Machine Gun
The American M240 Medium Machine Gun is in the hands of ISIS fighters by way of Iraq.

Thumbnail picture of the M249 SAW Light Machine Gun

M249 SAW Light Machine Gun
Another American military mainstay thought to be in ISIS hands is the M249 SAW machine gun.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet Kalashnikov AK-47 Assault Rifle

Kalashnikov AK-47 Assault Rifle
The storied Soviet AK-47 proliferates the Middle East in large numbers (and variants) which makes them easy to obtain in numbers required.

Thumbnail picture of the M16 Assault Rifle

Colt M16A2 Assault Rifle
Stocks of the classic American weapon were captured from retreating Iraqi forces.

Thumbnail picture of the M4 Assault Carbine

Colt M4 Assault Carbine
Iraqi Army and Police were issued the M4 Carbine by the Americans - so now ISI enjoys them.

Thumbnail picture of the Belgian Fabrique Nationale FN FAL Battle Rifle

FN FAL Battle Rifle
Popularity of this Belgian long gun in the Middle East has meant widespread use of it by ISIS forces.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet SKS semi-automatic rifle

Simonov SKS Rifle
A one-time Soviet mainstay, this rifle offers a reliable and proven semi-automatic action.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet Dragunov SVD sniper rifle

Dragunov SVD Sniper Rifle
Like the AK-47, the Dragunov SVD became available in large numbers to Soviet allies during the Cold War with local copies following in some countries (like Iraq).

Thumbnail picture of the Romanian PSL sniper rifle

PSL Sniper Rifle
The "Romanian Dragunov" has also found its way into the hands of ISIS fighting forces.

Thumbnail picture of the American Mk 14 EBR Designated Marksman Rifle

Mk 14 EBR Battle Rifle
Equipping the new Iraqi Army with the American Mk 14 EBR means ISIS now has access to the same weapon.

Thumbnail picture of the Iraqi Al-Qadissiya Tabuk DMR sniper rifle

Al-Qadissiya Tabuk DMR
The local production copy of the Soviet SVD semi-automatic sniper rifle became the Al-Qadissiya Tabuk Designated Marksman Rifle.

Thumbnail picture of the Russian Mosin-Nagant Model 1891 bolt-action service rifle

Mosin-Nagant Model 1891 Rifle
A century of exposure has not dampened the respect earned by this classic Russian Empire-era bolt-action service rifle.

Thumbnail picture of the South African Milkor MGL Y2 40mm Multiple Grenade Launcher

RBG-6 40mm Grenade Launcher)
The RBG-6 is a local Croatian copy of the South African Milkor MGL Y2 six-shot 40mm system.

Thumbnail picture of the Italian Beretta M92 semi-automatic pistol

Beretta M92 Pistol
Another proven military sidearm in the fight for ISIS is the Italian Beretta Model 92 series.

Thumbnail picture of the Belgian Browning Hi-Power semi-automatic pistol

Browning Hi-Power Pistol
John Browning's last pistol design can still be found in far-off parts of the world today.

Thumbnail picture of the Austrian Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol

Glock 17 Pistol
The global popularity of Glocks has made the Glock 17 a player in the ongoing war.

Thumbnail picture of the Austrian Glock 19 semi-automatic pistol

Glock 19 Pistol
Another Glock entry for ISIS in the ongoing war in the Glock 19 series model.

Thumbnail picture of the Soviet Makarov semi-automatic pistol

Makarov PM Pistol
Regional proliferation of this Soviet classic means ISIS has its hands on it now.

Thumbnail picture of the German Walther P99 semi-automatic pistol

Walther P99 Pistol
A more modern offering, the Walther P99 pistol has been seen in the region in unknown numbers.

Thumbnail picture of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed jet fighter

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
Reports suggested that captured Syrian MiG-21 fighters were used in training ISIS pilots with instruction from former Iraqi airmen who joined ISIS.

Thumbnail picture of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger jet fighter

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
The Soviet MiG-23 was also mentioned along with the MiG-21 as possibly being used in the training of ISIS pilots.

Thumbnail picture of the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk transport helicopter

Sikorsky UH-60 "Black Hawk"
The speed of the ISIS conquest meant that some American "Black Hawk" fell under enemy control - though their usefulness is in doubt.