ISIS News Update 2015: Terrorists Continue to Gather and Use U.S. Weapons
Following the grisly attacks on Paris, a new report states that the Islamic State has collected quite a significant number of weapons to fend off attacks from the U.S.-led coalition. What makes the report more straining is the discovery that the arsenal includes U.S.-made weapons.
According to CNN, Amnesty International, a prominent human rights group, released a 44-page report this week, wherein it is stated that a substantial amount of the weapons found in ISIS territory were those obtained from the battles against the Iraqi militia and Syrian rebels who have all been armed to a large extent with U.S. weapons.
U.S. President Barack Obama said this past week that the government will continue its focus on supporting local groups to join the fight against ISIS. This includes the Kurdish Peshmerga, Iraqi soldiers, Syrian rebels, and other groups who fight for the same cause.
"The strategy that we are using now - airstrikes, (U.S.) Special Forces and working with local forces who are fighting to regain control of their own country - that is how we'll achieve a more sustainable victory," Obama said.
The report then raises debates on how the Iraqi camps should be secured to avoid additional loss of weapons which are supposed to be used by the U.S.-led army.
The captured U.S. weaponry range from assault rifles to tanks, and even systems that were created for the purpose of keeping camps protected from aircraft attacks or airstrikes.
The organization notes that the findings should serve as a reflection to the U.S.-led coalition to strengthen the management of arms being transferred to the Iraqi militia, as well as further reinforce the security of stocks.