Suhail Muhammad Hamoud

Suhail Mohammed Hamoud , popularly known by his nom de guerre Abu TOW , is a Syrian rebel fighter and former military officer who rose to prominence for his skill in operating the BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile during the Syrian civil war. He had 140 confirmed hits as of 2021. He defected to the Free Syrian Army in 2011, participating in the battles in Idlib Governorate and the countryside south of Aleppo.

Before joining the Sham Legion, he was a fighter in the Hazzm Movement and later the 101st Infantry Division, the 1st Coastal Division and 13th Division. All of these groups received support from the United States, including the provision of BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles.

While a member of the Hazzm Movement, he fought battles against Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front between 2014 and 2015.

"From the beginning, Suhail was known for his hatred of Nusra Front," according to his friend Ahmad Barakat, interviewed by The Daily Beast. He was protected from being kidnapped by Nusra, because of his popularity and his great effect on the battlefield … Regime troops used to get scared when they heard Abu TOW was participating in a battle; this was something we would hear on the wireless handhelds." According to Barakat, Abu TOW had been the subject of several assassination attempts by the Al-Nusra Front. While driving in the village of Ihsim, he was arrested by HTS. When he went to the HTS police in the village of Marayan the following day, he was accused of "derision of religion." He was arrested by the HTS security branch and taken to a prison. An attempt by a delegation of Hamoud's Sham Legion fighters to negotiate his release was unsuccessful. Hammoud's relative was told that he would appear before an HTS judge.

Leaders of several Free Syrian Army-affiliated groups have privately petitioned HTS to release Hammoud. On 13 May 2017, it was reported that he was released from custody.

On 10 February 2020, Hammoud returned to Idlib Governorate to participate in military operations against Syrian government forces for the first time since his release.

On 18 March 2020, Hammoud was the target of a kidnapping attempt in the city of Idlib. He was shot in the foot, but the assailants were engaged by people accompanying him. HTS was blamed for the attack, but has denied this. After being hospitalized, Hammoud left Idlib governorate for northern Aleppo.

On 25 February 2022, Hammoud expressed his urge to travel to Ukraine and fight with the Ukrainian Army against the Russian army during their invasion of the country.

On 22 March 2023, Hammoud posted a photo on Twitter of him and a TOW missile launcher with a caption: "Wherever Russia goes, I will be at my job". Rumors appeared that Hammoud might be fighting in Ukraine after the tweet, however there is no evidence of this.

On 27 December 2024, Hammoud replied on Twitter to a post by Volodymyr Zelenskyy asking "How can I go to Ukraine and fight with you against Russian forces?"