A sudden influx of TOWs were supplied in May 2015 , mostly to Free Syrian Army affiliated factions , but also independent Islamist battalions ; as a requirement of being provided TOWs , these Syrian opposition groups are required to document the use of the missiles by filming their use , and are also required to save the spent missile casings . Groups provided with TOWs include the Hazzm Movement , the 13th Division , 1st Coastal Division , Syria Revolutionaries Front , Yarmouk Army , Knights of Justice Brigade , and the 101st Division . Free Syrian Army battalions widely and decisively used TOWs in the 2015 Jisr al-Shughur offensive . Russia attempted a rescue operation after a Su-24M was shot down at the Syria – Turkey border on 24 November 2015 , a video of Free Syrian Army 1st Coastal Division using a TOW missile to destroy a disabled Russian helicopter on the ground after its crew had retreated was posted on YouTube . In October 2015 , Saudi Arabia delivered 500 TOW missiles to anti-Assad rebels . A video produced through Bulgarian Television provides evidence of non rebel use of this weapon by Islamic affiliated fighters
shot down
2015 Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown
BGM-71 TOW