This is some report — and we have to give credit to Los Angeles Times foreign correspondent Nabih Bulos, for it.
Bulos decided to stay at the airport to cover what happened as the Taliban went into the formerly American-controlled area after the U.S. flew out for the last time.
Among the things that were remarkable was how the Taliban were decked out like Special Forces with likely American weapons which they have acquired since the pull-out started. They walked into a hangar and examined helicopters that were left behind just minutes ago when the U.S. left for the last time. The video has been viewed more than 3 million times.
“We’re here right now with the Taliban as they enter…what was only minutes ago…an American-controlled portion of the military airport,” Bulos said as he walked with them in the video. “Now, they’ve taken over.”
#Taliban fighters enter a hangar in #Kabul Airport and examine #chinook helicopters after #US leaves #Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/flJx0cLf0p
— Nabih (@nabihbulos) August 30, 2021
People later corrected the report that the helicopters were “Chinooks,” noting that in fact, they were CH-46 Sea Knights and had reportedly been rendered inoperable.
Reportedly first footage of #Taliban entering Kabul airport following #US exit.
Not Chinooks but four of seven CH-46 Sea Knights formerly operated by @StateDept previously reported to have been abandoned and rendered inoperable:https://t.co/B6I32Jsq8h
https://t.co/d7Fpbq05ur— Joseph Dempsey (@JosephHDempsey) August 30, 2021
This is a hangar at Apron 10 on the military side of Hamid Karzai International Airport. Two weeks ago, these four CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters (incl. Embassy Air's N431WR and N701WN) were involved in the evacuation of the U.S. Embassy. https://t.co/jRrCe9dGqX
— Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) August 30, 2021
At least five of #Afghanistan Air Force A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft were left at Kabul
While these were reportedly disabled by #US, the status of those A-29 captured by #Taliban at Mazar-i-Sharif Air Base is less clearhttps://t.co/LHWM5cLttz
— Joseph Dempsey (@JosephHDempsey) August 31, 2021
Celebratory gunfire from #Taliban fighters shooting tracer rounds into #Kabul's night sky after #US withdrawal. pic.twitter.com/4dhrHz7CNw
— Nabih (@nabihbulos) August 30, 2021
Even though the aircraft were reportedly disabled, it’s still obviously disconcerting to see them there, the hangar intact and things not blown up. Especially with them toting the military gear and weaponry, wondering how they can use that for evil ends in the future. It’s unclear exactly how much weaponry and equipment they acquired during the American pull-out but reports indicate that it was a significant amount.
The Taliban’s new $85 billion arsenal.
Scary to see the weapons now available to them and potentially to all their Jihadi colleagues worldwide. pic.twitter.com/BwN5FaA4Eq
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) August 29, 2021
Unfortunately, the Biden team also left something behind even more important than disabled planes and helicopters — Americans and Afghan allies who are still trapped — and there’s no way they can disable our memory of that.
really thrown off by the fact the taliban have gone from headdresses and tunics to looking like they just stepped out of "Sicario." https://t.co/n3nCniefOY
— tsar becket adams (@BecketAdams) August 31, 2021
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