An emerged video is just “the latest example of how the insurgents are flaunting their newly acquired military gear and rubbing it in America’s face” reports the New York Post. Russian television network RT and the tech monitoring outlet The Drive identified the airfield as Kandahar Airport in southeastern Afghanistan.
The New York Post Reports:
The former Afghan air force UH-60 Black Hawk is seen taxiing at an airport in Afghanistan, according to the Independent. However, it does not appear to leave the ground in the footage.
Russian television network RT and tech and motoring outlet The Drive identified the airfield as Kandahar Airport in southeastern Afghanistan.
Joseph Dempsey, a research associate for defense and military analysis at London thinktank the International Institute for Strategic Studies, also tweeted the clip and identified the airfield as Kandahar Airport.
Reportedly a #Taliban captured #Afghanistan Air Force UH-60 Blackhawk at Kandahar. Important to note it is only shown taxiing not flying. pic.twitter.com/xMYX8QJiwa
— Joseph Dempsey (@JosephHDempsey) August 25, 2021
The Drive noted that while the US-made chopper wasn’t seen leaving the ground, it could at least be seen as another propaganda effort by the extremists, who have seized a massive trove of US weapons worth billions after they toppled the government on Aug. 14.
It remains unclear exactly how many former Afghan military aircraft are under Taliban control, though Reuters last week reported that they seized about 40 fixed-wing planes and choppers.
Experts and observers have identified what appeared to be at least four Black Hawks under Taliban control, including two at the Kandahar airfield, the site of a major airbase the US turned over to the now-defunct Afghan government, The Drive reported.
Members of the so-called Badri 313 Brigade have been featured in the ISIS-style propaganda footage clad in what appear to be US military outfits, ditching their traditional turbans for the distinctive special forces helmets with mounts for night-vision goggles.
