More than $7 billion in U.S.-provided weapons seized by Taliban when Afghan government fell

More than $7 billion worth of U.S.-supplied military hardware, ranging from howitzers to sniper rifles, fell into the hands of the Taliban in Afghanistan when the American-backed government in Kabul swiftly collapsed amid the U.S.

government provided almost $85 billion in security assistance to Afghan forces from 2005 to 2021.

The Taliban seized more than $923 million worth of military aircraft; $4.1 billion worth of ground vehicles; and more than $511 million worth of weapons when they took control of Afghanistan, according to the report.

The Defense Department also provided more than 427,000 weapons for the Afghan military and security forces, including more than 258,000 rifles; 56,000 machine guns; 244 howitzers; and 31,000 rocket-propelled grenade launchers

Pentagon officials told the Inspector General that more than 316,000 of the weapons — worth $511.8 million — were in Afghan military hands when the government fell.