US military destroyed some of its own weapons on the way out of Afghanistan

The U.S. military made sure some of its weapons wouldn't fall into Taliban hands while leaving Afghanistan, according to Gen. Frank McKenzie, U.S. CENTCOM commander.

The general, who announced the end of the U.S.'s twenty-year war in Afghanistan on Monday, explained that military forces destroyed dozens of MRAPs, Humvees, and aircraft before they left shortly after midnight Tuesday morning local time, which was President Joe Biden's self-imposed withdrawal deadline.

'HUNDREDS' OF US CITIZENS LEFT BEHIND AS TROOPS LEAVE AFGHANISTAN. With the United States's now-completed withdrawal approaching in early August, many Biden administration officials expected the Afghan forces, which they trained for years, to be able to hold off the Taliban at least until after the troops had left.

Instead, much of the equipment the U.S. had provided to the Afghan forces fell into the Taliban's hands but not the 70 MRAPs and 27 Humvees, both of which are military vehicles, and 73 aircraft they left inoperable.

Despite what the U.S. was able to destroy on its way out, there have been various photos and video posted to social media showing Taliban fighters posing with or using the found gear.

Rep. Jim Banks, an Indiana Republican and Afghanistan veteran, estimated the price tag of U.S. equipment left behind at $85 billion.

The U.S.-backed Afghan military possessed more than 150 aircraft before the Taliban took over, according to the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction's recent report.
 

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