A YouTube video of a Hezbollah Brigades convoy seemingly on its way to fight the Islamic State group includes numerous American-made military vehicles.
The propaganda video uploaded Tuesday shows the Iranian-backed militia in possession of an M1 Abrams tank, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAP), and Humvees at its disposal.
The Long War Journal, a news website operated by the nonprofit organization Foundation for Defense of Democracies, reported that it was unclear how Hezbollah, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., acquired the vehicles.
“The Hezbollah Brigades, or Kata’ib Hezbollah, receives funding, training, logistics, guidance, and material support from the Qods Force, the external operations wing of the Revolutionary Guard Corps,” the website reported.
When charges began that Iranian-backed militias were using U.S. weaponry against the Islamic State group, White House spokesman Alistair Baskey told Bloomberg News earlier this month that there was “no reason to believe” that the Iraqi government was providing the equipment.
Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, disputed that statement, telling Bloomberg that the Iranians “are now, to a large degree, through the Shia militias, in the absence of a capable Iraqi military, doing most of the fighting against [the Islamic State]. That cannot be in the U.S. interest.”
SEE ALSO: U.S. weapons meant for Iraqi security forces used by Iran-backed Shiite militias
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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