For decades, Taliban insurgents have struggled to combat US weapons. But with the fall of Afghanistan's Kabul government to the Taliban, they now have a new arsenal of weapons, mostly US-owned.
The US is spending billions of dollars supplying the Afghan military with the tools to defeat the Taliban. Between 2002 and 2017, they provided the Afghan military with an estimated $28 billion in weapons and military equipment.
"We provide all the tools to our partners in our Afghanistan. Let me stress: all modern military tools, training and equipment," US President Joe Biden said last month, defending his decision to withdraw US troops and hand over the fighting to the Afghan army. .
These weapons are now being used by the Taliban to attack. Here are some of the spoils of war that became the new weapon of the Taliban after returning to control of Afghanistan.
Military Vehicle
A US official told Reuters that while exact figures were not available, the current intelligence assessment is that the Taliban are believed to be in control of more than 2,000 armored vehicles, including US Humvees, which are worth about $308 thousand each.
Forbes reports that in June alone, the Taliban captured 700 trucks and Humvees from Afghan security forces as well as dozens of armored vehicles and artillery systems.
Other American-made military vehicles reported to be in the hands of the Taliban include M1117 Guardians, MaxxPro MRAP, Oshkosh ATVs and other military vehicles used to navigate the country's rugged terrain. The Taliban also inherited 11 planned military bases equipped with the latest weapons and gadgets as well as its own air force.
Helicopters and Drones
According to the US Government Accountability Office, between 2003 and 2016, the US supplied Afghan forces with 208 aircraft. These include Blackhawk helicopters, scout attack helicopters, and ScanEagle military drones, light attack aircraft, and military transport aircraft.
However, not all of these assets are left behind. In the past week, many of those planes were used by Afghan pilots to escape the Taliban.
One US official said that between 40 and 50 planes had been flown to Uzbekistan by Afghan pilots seeking cover.
Some of the aircraft are in the US for maintenance and will stay. Those en route to Afghan forces will instead be used by the US military to assist in the evacuation from Kabul.
Weapons and Infrared Night Glasses
There are more pressing concerns about some weapons and equipment that are easier to use, such as goggles for night vision (infrared night vision).
Since 2003, the United States has provided Afghan forces with at least 600,000 infantry weapons including M16 assault rifles, 162,000 pieces of communications equipment, and 16,000 night vision devices.
"The ability to be able to operate at night is a real game changer," a congressional aide told Reuters.
Small arms seized by insurgents such as machine guns, mortars, as well as artillery including howitzers, could give the Taliban an advantage against any resistance that could emerge in historic anti-Taliban strongholds, such as the Panjshir Valley northeast of Kabul.
