The Unintended Legacy: Military Equipment Left In Iraq And Afghanistan

The US has left behind military equipment in both Iraq and Afghanistan, with the withdrawal from the latter in 2021 leading to billions of dollars' worth of equipment falling into the hands of the Taliban. In Iraq, the US left behind military vehicles and bases, while in Afghanistan, the abandoned equipment included aircraft, armoured vehicles, and defensive systems. The US has defended its actions, stating that the equipment was demilitarized and rendered inoperable, but there are concerns that the Taliban could use or sell the weapons, leading to a resurgence of terrorist groups and a deterioration of human rights in the region.

The US left behind $7 billion worth of military equipment in Afghanistan

The US military passed a total of $18.6 billion in arms and equipment to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) to help fight the Taliban. However, following the withdrawal of all US troops in August 2021, some $7 billion worth of equipment remained in the country.

Among the items left behind were aircraft worth $923 million, which were demilitarized and left inoperable. Also left behind were $6.5 million in artillery and 300,000 weapons. The Pentagon said it has no plan to "retrieve or destroy" the equipment.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan was chaotic and hastily executed, leading to criticism from lawmakers from both parties. The equipment left behind has ended up in the hands of the Taliban, the very enemy the US sought to drive out over two decades.

The Taliban have been seen parading US weapons and equipment in Afghanistan and are using them to solidify their grip on power. There are concerns that the Taliban could use the small arms, or pass them on to American adversaries or terrorist groups. However, the Defense Department insists that the equipment is unlikely to be operational for long, as it requires specialized maintenance and technical support.

The equipment included aircraft, armoured vehicles, weapons, and more

The US left behind a significant amount of military equipment in Afghanistan, including aircraft, armoured vehicles, weapons, and more. This equipment was worth an estimated $7 billion and was transferred to the Afghan government over a period of 16 years.

The equipment left behind included approximately 70 to 78 aircraft, such as MD-530 helicopters and A-29 light attack planes, which were rendered inoperable by US forces before their withdrawal. The US also abandoned up to 100 military vehicles, including 27 to 70 Humvees and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs), which were built to withstand blasts from improvised explosive devices.

In addition, the US left behind a large number of weapons and ammunition. This included more than 300,000 weapons, such as M4 and M16 rifles, and nearly $48 million worth of ammunition. The US also provided the Afghan forces with night-vision goggles, surveillance equipment, and other specialised equipment.

While the US military destroyed or rendered inoperable much of the equipment before their withdrawal, the Taliban have been able to display some of it as trophies. Some of the equipment has also made its way into other conflict zones, such as the disputed region of Kashmir, where militants have been found with US-made weapons and ammunition.

The Taliban has been displaying this equipment as trophies

The Taliban has been displaying US military equipment as trophies. The Taliban fighters have been seen posing in aircraft for pictures and celebrating on the tarmac of Kabul airport. They have also been seen parading through the streets of Afghanistan in US armoured vehicles.

The US left behind a large amount of military equipment in Afghanistan, worth billions of dollars. This includes aircraft, armoured vehicles, and sophisticated defensive systems. The equipment was transferred to the Afghan government, which collapsed before the US withdrawal.

The Taliban's display of this equipment as trophies is a propaganda tool. The vehicles do not have the full functionality of those used by modern militaries and will likely fall into disrepair without proper maintenance. However, there is concern that the Taliban could use some of the smaller weapons and equipment, such as night-vision goggles, or pass them on to other militant groups or American adversaries.

The US destroyed some equipment before withdrawal

The US destroyed some equipment before its withdrawal from Afghanistan. According to Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, some of the equipment was "demilitarized," or rendered inoperable. Thermate grenades, which burn at temperatures of 4,000 degrees, were likely used by troops to destroy key components of the equipment. Some pieces of equipment were probably blown up, as evidenced by blasts heard at the Kabul airport.

The US also destroyed equipment at the Bagram Air Base, where anything that was not taken home or given to the Afghan military was dismantled. This was done as a security measure to prevent the equipment from falling into the hands of militants. However, scrap sellers in Afghanistan viewed this as a waste, feeling that they could have profited more from selling intact equipment.

The US military also destroyed equipment at the Kabul airport, including up to 70 MRAPs (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles) and 27 Humvees, which were rendered inoperable. In addition, there were 73 aircraft on the ramp at the airport that were disabled and would never be flown again. A weapon system used to intercept rockets, artillery, and mortars, known as C-RAM, was also destroyed by the US military.

While the US did leave behind military equipment in Afghanistan, it is important to note that a significant portion of the equipment was destroyed or rendered inoperable before the final withdrawal. The US took measures to ensure that sensitive equipment did not fall into the wrong hands and posed a security risk.

The US transferred some equipment to Ukraine

The US has provided Ukraine with a significant amount of military equipment, totalling approximately $44.3 billion in military assistance since the Russian invasion in February 2022. This includes equipment such as:

• 20 Mi-17 helicopters
• Switchblade Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
• High-speed Anti-radiation missiles (HARMs)
• Precision aerial munitions
• More than 6,000 Zuni aircraft rockets
• More than 20,000 Hydra-70 aircraft rockets
• More than 10,000 Javelin anti-armor systems
• More than 90,000 other anti-armor systems and munitions
• More than 9,000 Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles
• More than 40,000 grenade launchers and small arms
• More than 400,000,000 rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades
• Laser-guided rocket systems and munitions
• Rocket launchers and ammunition
• Two Harpoon coastal defense systems and anti-ship missiles
• More than 70 coastal and riverine patrol boats
• Unmanned Coastal Defense Vessels
• Port and harbor security equipment
• M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel munitions
• C-4 explosives, demolition munitions, and demolition equipment for obstacle clearing
• Obstacle emplacement equipment
• Counter air defense capability
• More than 100,000 sets of body armor and helmets
• Tactical secure communications systems and support equipment
• Four satellite communications (SATCOM) antennas
• SATCOM terminals and services
• Electronic warfare (EW) and counter-EW equipment
• Commercial satellite imagery services
• Night vision devices, surveillance and thermal imagery systems, optics, and rangefinders
• Explosive ordnance disposal equipment and protective gear
• Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear protective equipment
• Medical supplies, including first aid kits, bandages, monitors, and other equipment
• Field equipment, cold weather gear, generators, and spare parts
• Support for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities

In addition to the equipment listed above, the US has also transferred equipment originally intended for Afghanistan to Ukraine. This includes:

• Five Mi-17 helicopters
• Non-standard munitions, including about 37,000 122mm howitzer rounds
• Over 15 million rounds of Ball rifle ammunition
• Over 99,000 40mm high-explosive/fragmentation grenade cartridges
• About 119,000 82mm high-explosive mortar rounds

The transfer of military equipment from the US to Ukraine has been crucial in supporting Ukraine's defence against Russian aggression and has contributed to the country's interoperability with NATO.

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