Last Updated on August 31, 2021
A new video going viral on social media appears to show Taliban pilots flying an American military helicopter that was abandoned in the country by Joe Biden during the hurried withdrawal of American troops.
The video shows a group of men waving outside the helicopter, which may be a Black Hawk, over the city of Mazar-i-Charif, Afghanistan. In the nearly 2 minute video, one Taliban soldier is seen waving at the city of over 500,000, while another uses his phone to record footage from inside the helicopter. The video reportedly surfaced among pro-Taliban media outlets before being shared to Twitter.
New footage of Taliban-operated Black Hawk circulating on pro-TB channels. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/Kav9LTlk7N
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) August 31, 2021
Geolocated: The above video is from Mazar city, Balkh. #Afghanistan https://t.co/I1hpPJKcMD
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) August 31, 2021
According to Reuters, which described the bounty left by Biden for the Taliban as a “U.S.-made war chest” for the radical Islamists, the Taliban now possesses “2,000 armored vehicles, including U.S. Humvees, and up to 40 aircraft potentially including UH-60 Black Hawks, scout attack helicopters, and ScanEagle military drones.” (READ MORE: President Trump Says ‘You’re Gonna Have’ Another 9/11-Style Attack In America Because Of Disastrous Afghanistan Withdrawal)
Since 2002, Reuters notes, the American government has given the Afghan military “an estimated $28 billion in weaponry” and “208 aircraft” which are all now owned by the Taliban.
Ironically, experts previously claimed that, due to the frequent maintenance and expertise required to operate American aircraft, the Taliban would likely not be able to use it. “The fact that our equipment breaks down so often is a life-saver here,” said one anonymous official. It appears this is not accurate, so far. (READ MORE: ‘You Can’t F**k Up As Bad As He Did And Say You’re Sorry’: Gold Star Family Walks Out On Meeting With Biden)
The Taliban also now has access to “at least 600,000 infantry weapons including M16 assault rifles, 162,000 pieces of communication equipment, and 16,000 night vision goggle devices” as well as “machine guns, mortars,” and “howitzers” that will likely “give the Taliban an advantage” against any local resistance.
