MAZ trucks at Assad's military bases

Syrian rebels captured footage of Belarusian MAZ trucks at Bashar al-Assad's military base.

Experts say Minsk's sales through Russia don't include only trucks and tractors,” Belsat TV reports.

MAZ trucks at al-Assad's military base. A still image from a video made by rebels

The Belarusian authorities admit that Syria is among the country's key partners in the Middle East. Belarus imports cotton fabrics and medicines from Syria and sells Belarusian MAZ trucks and tractors. However, the Syrian government uses the vehicles also for military purposes.

The international community accuses Belarus of selling weapons and military technologies. US's National Journal observer Yochi J. Dreazen said Belarus provided Syria with the technologies that increase the accuracy of the missiles. Dreazen writes he received the information from American military intelligence agencies.

Belarusian military observer Alyaksandr Alesin thinks weapons supplies from Belarus to Syria amid conflict can be performed only through the intermediary of Russia: “Belarus cannot deliver anything to Syria amid military actions. Such deliveries can be carried out only by Russia under protection of its military fleet. Moreover, Russia has its own military port in Syria. Many Russian weapons have Belarusian components. These are sighting systems, laser devices, communication equipment and computer technologies. I don't rule out the possibility that Belarusian products are supplied to Syria as component parts of Russian products. Belarus may have a role of a subcontractor.”

Alesin says arms supplies to Syria do not violate international law, because the UN has not imposed sanctions on such supplies.

The Belarusian authorities however claim the country does not sell weapons to Syria.

On 19 September 2012, the US government slapped sanctions against Belvneshpromservice company for its ties with Syria’s Army Supply Bureau. The US said Belarus had sold fuses for general purpose aerial bombs to Syria.