The Islamic State Has $1 Billion Worth Of U.S. Armored Humvee Vehicles

Earlier this week, the Inquisitr reported that the Islamic State dealt a serious blow to Iraqi forces by attacking one of their bases, which would have been a vital mission execution point for the retaking of Ramadi. The attack is peculiar because it utilized three military Humvee vehicles. They were strapped with explosives while the drivers rammed into the Iraqi base. At least one of the Humvee vehicles detonated near or within an ammunition depot, which resulted in a massive explosion.

Many asked where the Islamic State got military Humvee vehicles. Nevertheless, those three Humvee vehicles are not the only ones the Islamic State have, as they reportedly possess about $1 billion worth of them.

According to the Guardian, the Islamic State gained a huge stockpile of military-grade weapons and vehicles through their pillaging of Syria and Iraq. Yet, the terrorist group gained most of their military Humvee vehicles when they overran the northern city of Mosul on June 10, 2014. This was confirmed by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi during an interview on Iraqiya TV.

“In the collapse of Mosul, we lost a lot of weapons. We lost 2,300 Humvees in Mosul alone.”

The Islamic State has 2,297 more military Humvee vehicles to use, if it is assumed only three of them were used just for the suicide bombing. What is more devastating is that the military Humvee vehicles were from the United States. International Business Times reports the $1 billion worth of military Humvee vehicles were part of an approved deal between the U.S. State Department and Iraq. As a result, Iraq purchased $12.4 billion worth of 175 M1A1 Abrams tanks and 1,000 military Humvee vehicles, valued at $579 million.

This casts doubts on Iraq’s ability to keep the military weaponry from falling in the wrong hands, a concern some lawmakers expressed. It also doesn’t help that Congress has yet to approve the sale in the first place.

The Islamic State is more dangerous than ever before. Prior to their pillaging, the Islamic State was a major threat using civilian vehicles — primarily Toyotas — along with hand-me-down and used, cheap weapons. Now with the $1 billion worth of military Humvee vehicles and their recent stash of military weapons, the terror group poses an even larger threat.

[Image via Scott Nelson / Getty]