ISIS using ‘significant quantities’ of U.S. arms

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is using “significant quantities” of U.S.-made weapons which it seized from Syrian rebels and Iraqi government forces, according a report released Monday.

The London-based weapons research organization Conflict Armament Research said the American armaments being used by the militant group include M-16 assault rifles and bear U.S. government markings.

The report also indicated that the group had in its possession anti-tank rockets that were identical to 1980s-era M79 rockets used by the moderate Free Syrian Army (FSA).

ISIS is also believed to have seized large quantities of weapons from Syrian military installations it has captured, including warplanes.

In Iraq, ISIS militants seized vast quantities of military gear and U.S. equipment which Iraqi army soldiers abandoned as they fled in the face of the offensive in June.

The equipment seized by the group includes a number of U.S.-made armored Humvees which ISIS has reportedly used in suicide bombings against Iraqi forces, according to AFP.

Over the past several years the United States spent billions of dollars to train and equip Iraqi military and security personnel, to ensure they could maintain security in the country after American troops departed at the end of 2011.

With AFP