Apr 24, 2014

Jabhat al-Nusra announced the “Bas Foundation for Military Manufacturing and Development” in a move indicating its growing capabilities and expertise, as well as reflecting its fears that its external support will not last​.

Jabhat al-Nusra’s move is expected to worsen the security situation in Syria and may turn the country into Nusra’s testing ground. And the civilians will be the most affected.

Jabhat al-Nusra’s Twitter account announced the formation of Bas, pointing out that the foundation’s work and details will be published soon. But a source close to Jabhat al-Nusra told As-Safir that Bas constitutes “a qualitative step in the field of military development and production based on institutional scientific grounds that the battlefields have never seen before,” pointing out that this work is “a far cry from the dye and coloring workshops” performed by some other factions that claim to produce and develop military hardware.

The Bas Foundation is part of a project started by Jabhat al-Nusra in mid-2013 and involves manufacturing some types of weapons and ammunition using machinery and equipment captured from factories located in areas under its control.

In September, Jabhat al-Nusra revealed the existence of the “Military Manufacturing and Development Institution.” A Nusra official said the institution is "working full force to produce the necessary arms and ammunition to supply the raging battle, so the wheel of jihad keeps moving in the land of the Levant."