Taliban holding on to $7 billion of U.S. military equipment left behind after withdrawal

More than three years after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the country's new leaders insist they have improved people's lives, but for years the Taliban has ruled with an iron fist — aided by abandoned U.S. military hardware.

Last year, the Taliban put on a parade showing off its massive haul, including assault rifles and Humvees.

According to a 2022 Department of Defense report, 78 aircraft, 40,000 military vehicles and more than 300,000 weapons were among some of what was left behind.