Using American weapons, the Taliban exchanged heavy gunfire with Iran along Iran’s border with Afghanistan during the weekend of May 27, 2023. The groups were fighting over a water rights dispute in the region. At least three people died and others were wounded.
Video that has spread on social media shows Taliban fighters using a mix of old Soviet gear and U.S. weapons. Some of the videos showed U.S. armored Humvees rolling down a road, reportedly on their way to the fight. Another video showed a massive Soviet D-30 Howitzer in the back of a Navistar 7,000 transport truck from the U.S.
According to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the U.S. spent $18.6 billion equipping the Afghan National Army for the war in Afghanistan. The Pentagon has said it left behind about $7.12 billion worth of military equipment, and it’s had a hard time keeping track of it all in the wake of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Many of the weapons are now in the hands of the Taliban, some being used to fight off enemies like Iran.
The fighting comes as newly-leaked documents reveal Iran could be planning new attacks against U.S. troops in Syria. According to a Washington Post report, Iran is arming militants in Syria and training forces to use bombs specifically intended to target U.S. military vehicles and kill U.S. personnel.
