A screenshot from a video reportedly released by the Islamic State showing a fighter unpacking weapons from an alleged U.S. military airdrop.
(Screenshot via A3maq News)
YouTube video depicts munitions destined for Kurdish fighters in Kobani reportedly obtained by ISIS fighters
Fighters with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (or ISIS) are claiming to have obtained a cache of weapons from the U.S. military after it airdropped bundles of small-arms ammunition and weaponry destined for Kurdish fighters in Kobani.
A video reportedly released by ISIS and posted to YouTube on Monday by A3maq News shows a masked man standing beside a parachuted bundle of boxes, which he proceeds to open revealing an array of weapons including mortars and grenades.
Speaking to reporters late Monday, Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby acknowledged that the weapons were "of the kinds of materials that [were] dropped," which he said included small-arms ammunition and weaponry. Kirby stated that the Pentagon is "very confident that the vast majority of the bundles did end up in the right hands," adding that they are "only aware of one bundle that did not."
Kirby said that the Pentagon is currently investigating the authenticity of the video.
This is not the first instance where it was revealed that the U.S. military is currently engaged in a war against ISIS fighters that are arming themselves with munitions from the U.S.. A recent report conducted by Conflict Armament Research found that ISIS fighters were using "significant quantities of US-manufactured small arms and have employed them on the battlefield."
The future of all that we cherish is on the line and we have to fight like hell to protect democracy, human decency, and a liveable planet.
The last line of defense is people who understand what’s at stake—activists, writers, thinkers, doers, and everyday people who see what is happening, know in their hearts that a better world is possible, and are willing to fight for it.
You are one of the good people Common Dreams was built for. We provide independent news, progressive opinion, and crucial analysis on the day’s most important issues. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. But to keep publishing and remain strong in these dangerous times, we need your support.
So we’re asking you today: Will you donate to our Fall Campaign and keep the progressive, nonprofit journalism of Common Dreams alive?
| |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Lauren McCauleyLauren McCauley is a former senior editor for Common Dreams covering national and international politics and progressive news. She is now the Editor of Maine Morning Star. Lauren also helped produce a number of documentary films, including the award-winning Soundtrack for a Revolution and The Hollywood Complex, as well as one currently in production about civil rights icon James Meredith. Her writing has been featured on Newsweek, BillMoyers.com, TruthDig, Truthout, In These Times, and Extra! the newsletter of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. She currently lives in Kennebunk, Maine with her husband, two children, a dog, and several chickens.
Fighters with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (or ISIS) are claiming to have obtained a cache of weapons from the U.S. military after it airdropped bundles of small-arms ammunition and weaponry destined for Kurdish fighters in Kobani.
A video reportedly released by ISIS and posted to YouTube on Monday by A3maq News shows a masked man standing beside a parachuted bundle of boxes, which he proceeds to open revealing an array of weapons including mortars and grenades.
Speaking to reporters late Monday, Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby acknowledged that the weapons were "of the kinds of materials that [were] dropped," which he said included small-arms ammunition and weaponry. Kirby stated that the Pentagon is "very confident that the vast majority of the bundles did end up in the right hands," adding that they are "only aware of one bundle that did not."
Kirby said that the Pentagon is currently investigating the authenticity of the video.
This is not the first instance where it was revealed that the U.S. military is currently engaged in a war against ISIS fighters that are arming themselves with munitions from the U.S.. A recent report conducted by Conflict Armament Research found that ISIS fighters were using "significant quantities of US-manufactured small arms and have employed them on the battlefield."
