Isis, al-Qaida Using Facebook to Buy Weapons: Reports

Advertisement
By Press Trust of India | Updated: 26 February 2016 13:40 IST
The terror groups active in Syria are using social media sites like Facebook to buy and sell heavy weapons, guns and ammunition, according to UK media reports.

Islamic State (Isis) and Al-Qaida terrorists could potentially also use Facebook to buy an anti-aircraft rocket launcher capable of blowing a passenger jet out of the sky, 'Daily Mirror' reported Thursday.

One of the weapons for sale is a MANPADs, or man-portable air defence systems, a type of missile launcher capable of bringing down both civilian and military jets.

Advertisement

It is being sold for $67,000 on the page called 'The First Weapons Market in Idlib (Syria) Countryside'.

Although the sellers are Syrian rebels, the nature of the conflict in the war zone means the weapon could easily fall into Isis hands, the newspaper said.

Advertisement

One post on the page shows an AGS-17 Soviet-Era grenade launcher available for $3,800.

One of the messages reads: "Quick friends, I need a gun with a silencer."

Advertisement

The page also hosts an advert for a TOW missile launcher, which the seller claims comes from "The US Pentagon".

TOW missiles have been controversially supplied by the CIA to selected rebel groups in Syria and Iraq since the civil war erupted in 2011.

Advertisement

Youssef Yassim, an Isis supporter from Idlib, is seen posing with an Isis flag in his profile and is using the Facebook page to buy a "thermal camera" - used for hunting at night.

The 'Mirror' has reported this page to Facebook and contacted them for a comment.

The news emerged as hackers aligned with Isis threatened Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in a new video yesterday, railing against the social media companies war on its propaganda.

The 25-minute film, uncovered by deep web company Vocativ, displays images of Zuckerberg and Dorsey with bullet holes over their faces.

 

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Poco X8 Series Arrives in India With 50-Megapixel Camera: See Price
  2. Vivo X300 Ultra, Vivo X300s Tipped to Launch in China on This Date
  3. Realme P4 Lite 5G Roundup: Price in India, Specifications Expected
  4. Vivo T5x 5G Goes Official in India With 7,200mAh Battery
  5. Samsung Galaxy M17e 5G Debuts With 6,000mAh Battery at This Price in India
  6. Oppo Find N6 Launched With Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, 6,000mAh Battery
  7. Apple Reportedly Increases Foldable iPhone Panel Orders to 20 Million
  8. Oppo K14 5G Debuts With 7,000mAh Battery at This Price in India
  9. Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold Sales to Wind Down Just Three Months After Launch
  10. Jio Users Can Get Free Incoming SMS Abroad Using Wi-Fi Calling
  1. Jio Reportedly Offers Free Incoming SMS Over VoWiFi Without Roaming Pack for International Travellers
  2. OnePlus 15T China Launch Date Announced for March 24; to Be Available in Five RAM, Storage Variants
  3. Instagram Rolls Out New AI Voice Effects For Voice Notes With Eight Filters
  4. Apple Reportedly Boosts Foldable Panel Orders to 20 Million, Suggesting Strong Demand for Foldable iPhone
  5. Smriti Irani Backs Women Entrepreneurs With SPARK Collective Push and British Council Partnership
  6. Oppo Watch X3 With Snapdragon W5 Chipset, Over 100 Sports Modes Launched
  7. Oppo Find N6 Launched With Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, 6,000mAh Battery: Price, Features
  8. Poco X8 Pro Series Launched in India With Up to 9,000mAh Battery, 50-Megapixel Camera: Price, Specifications
  9. OnePlus Pad 3 Tipped to Launch With 13.2-Inch Display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Chip
  10. Vivo X500 Series Chipsets Tipped Months Ahead of Launch; Vivo Pro Max Could Also Debut
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.