The Islamic terrorist entity, following its overthrow of most of Afghanistan, has been taking to social media to boast of its newly acquired military gear abandoned by the US military and other western forces.
Amid the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan, quickly regaining military and political control, the Islamic terror group has begun to flex its alleged strength through the means of social media. Most recently, the Taliban has seemingly forced the US and other western forces out of the country as it approached the capital city of Kabul, resulting in the withdrawal of the US from one of its largest embassies in the world.
Taking to social media as a means of displaying strength, the Taliban posted photos of its militants wearing familiar US military uniforms, wielding a number of US weapons, including the M4 rifle. Furthermore, a video surfaced on Wednesday of the group conducting a test run on one of the US’s abandoned Blackhawk helicopters.
Despite the newly inherited and improved equipment, it is considered doubtful that the Islamic terror group would be able to handle most western military forces in combat. However, it is undeniable that the group has advanced its technological capabilities. Equipment abandoned by the US includes countless combat weapons, armored humvees, various helicopters, and much more.
Managing Editor of the Long War Journal, Bill Roggio, said, “There is certainly a degree of propaganda, but we saw during the final offensive since May that the Taliban special forces have been critical in the taking over of Afghanistan.” He continued, “When they began to overrun the Afghan forces, they progressively integrated Western supplies. The US in effect armed the Taliban army.”
The US entered Afghanistan in 2001 following the September 11th terrorist attacks, wherein al-Qaeda terrorists overthrew airplane cockpits and flew planes full of passengers into the World Trade Centers and Pentagon. An additional plane, United Flight 93, was flown into the ground in Pennsylvania, killing everyone on board. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks.