Taliban Appear to Take Joyride on US Helicopter Biden Left Behind
Taliban fighters apparently took a joyride on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Monday — the group’s latest flex of U.S. weaponry seized from the Afghan military.
SO WHAT
The Biden administration’s rush for the exit in Afghanistan leaves the Taliban in control and better armed than ever.
WHAT HAPPENED
Internet videos captured the Black Hawk flying over the city of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan, with the Taliban reportedly in charge of the helicopter.
Taliban flying an American-supplied UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Reportedly over Kandahar.
According to BBC, the Afghan airforce had 33 of them in their inventory back in June. Unclear how many were captured by the Taliban & how many were smuggled to uzbekistan. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/Qg5ExBkNJ2
— Asfandyar Bhittani (@BhittaniKhannnn) August 30, 2021
At one point, someone appeared to be dangling from the chopper by a rope.
SAME ENERGY
A viral photo taken earlier this month — around the time the U.S.-backed Afghan government collapsed and the Taliban took over Kandahar and much of the country — showed a man waving the white Taliban flag beside an Afghan Air Force Black Hawk.
A Taliban fighter poses with a US-made Afghan air force Blackhawk helicopter at captured Kandahar airfield (Daily Mail UK Online) pic.twitter.com/uerbIzmXa0
— Earthman Journalist (@Intprofessor) August 15, 2021
The U.S. gave at least $18 billion to the Afghan military for “equipment and transportation” since 2005, according to a government report to Congress last month.
- The Taliban has not been shy about displaying the airplanes, Humvees, guns and other military kit it captured from that arsenal while taking over the country.