Taliban Seizes Many US Weapons Provided to Afghanistan... "Armored Vehicles and Fighter Jets Captured"

Seizure of $83 Billion Worth of Heavy Weapons and Fighter Jets
Massive Military Buildup Raises Security Concerns Among Neighboring Countries

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] The Afghan armed group Taliban has captured heavy weapons and fighter jets previously provided by the U.S. to the Afghan government forces, acquiring weapons worth hundreds of billions of dollars. As the Taliban secures massive military power, concerns are growing that they may launch invasions into neighboring countries.

According to the Associated Press on the 18th, the Taliban has seized weapons worth approximately $83 billion (about 97 trillion KRW) that the U.S. provided to the Afghan government since 2001, as they took control of the capital Kabul and other major cities. The Taliban reportedly posted numerous videos and photos on social media platforms such as Twitter showing their soldiers capturing U.S. military firearms like M16 rifles and M4 carbines, as well as armored vehicles.

According to Agence France-Presse, the Taliban captured multiple U.S. military vehicles, including UH-60 Black Hawk attack helicopters and other equipment at Kandahar Airport in the south. The U.S. Department of Defense reported that the Afghan government forces operated a total of 211 aircraft last month. Considering that the Taliban took over major cities without combat in most regions, it is estimated that the majority of these aircraft have fallen into Taliban hands.

Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Advisor, also stated in a press briefing that "a significant amount of weapons have definitely fallen into the hands of the Taliban," adding, "This is one of the challenges the President faces after ending a 20-year war."

Having previously lacked heavy weapons and air power, the Taliban's acquisition of the vast military assets left behind by the U.S. military has increased concerns about potential invasions of neighboring countries. After the fall of Kabul, the Taliban released a large number of Al-Qaeda and IS detainees held at Bagram Air Base, a former U.S. airbase. They also freed additional Al-Qaeda and IS members from a prison near Kabul holding about 5,000 inmates. If the warlords affiliated with Al-Qaeda and IS, spread across Pakistan and the Middle East, establish connections with the Taliban, there are fears of an expansion of the war into neighboring countries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.