How American weapons are ending up in the hands of IS

A recent report by Amnesty International revealed that the Islamic State’s weaponry includes weapons from dozens of countries.
Members of the Iraqi counter-terrorism forces inspect weapons that were found in an arms depot which belonged to Islamic State (IS) group jihadists, in the al-Tameem district of Ramadi, a large city on the Euphrates 100 kilometres (60 miles) west of Baghdad on December 9, 2015. Iraqi forces consolidated newly gained positions in Ramadi, after achieving a breakthrough in their fight against the Islamic State (IS) group by retaking a large part of the city. / AFP / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should
Members of the Iraqi counterterrorism forces inspect weapons that were found in an arms depot that belonged to Islamic State fighters, in the al-Tameem district of Ramadi, Iraq, Dec. 9, 2015. - AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images
wilson_fache_color.jpg
Wilson Fache
@@wilsonfache
Read in 

Amnesty International (AI) released a 44-page report Dec. 7 on the Islamic State's “substantial arsenal of arms and ammunition.” According to the human rights group, the inventory comprises weapons designed or manufactured “in more than 25 countries,” including the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia, China, Germany and France.

The findings come as no surprise to arms-tracking organizations that have been monitoring IS weaponry for years, among them the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey and the British Conflict Armament Research (CAR). Studies conducted by these nongovernmental organizations in Iraq and Syria indicate that IS benefits from a large array of supply sources.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.

Videos

See more