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Watch: Iran-backed militia driving an M1 Abrams tank in Iraq


Kata’ib Sayyid al Shuda (KSS), which is also known as the Battalion of the Sayyid’s Martyrs, has created a propaganda video that includes an M1 Abrams tank (at around the 16-second mark of the video). The Iraqi government is denying their involvement with KSS, and claims not to know how they obtained the U.S.-made tank.

According to the U.S. Defense Department, “We have received assurances from the Government of Iraq and the Iraqi Security Forces that they will use U.S. equipment in accordance with U.S. law and our bilateral agreements. If we receive reports that U.S.-origin equipment is being misused or provided to unauthorized users, we engage the Iraqi government in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy to address any confirmed issues — up to the highest levels, if necessary.”

During the video, they didn’t fire the tank’s main weapon, because they are probably out of or in short supply of the 120mm rounds. If they had a round, it would have definitely been the highlight of the propaganda video. The video also shows them traveling a very short distance, so they could be running out of the JP-8 jet fuel as well (it does only get .6 miles to the gallon). It will probably be a 60-ton lawn ornament pretty soon.

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Kata’ib Sayyid al Shuda (KSS), which is also known as the Battalion of the Sayyid’s Martyrs, has created a propaganda video that includes an M1 Abrams tank (at around the 16-second mark of the video). The Iraqi government is denying their involvement with KSS, and claims not to know how they obtained the U.S.-made tank.

According to the U.S. Defense Department, “We have received assurances from the Government of Iraq and the Iraqi Security Forces that they will use U.S. equipment in accordance with U.S. law and our bilateral agreements. If we receive reports that U.S.-origin equipment is being misused or provided to unauthorized users, we engage the Iraqi government in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy to address any confirmed issues — up to the highest levels, if necessary.”

During the video, they didn’t fire the tank’s main weapon, because they are probably out of or in short supply of the 120mm rounds. If they had a round, it would have definitely been the highlight of the propaganda video. The video also shows them traveling a very short distance, so they could be running out of the JP-8 jet fuel as well (it does only get .6 miles to the gallon). It will probably be a 60-ton lawn ornament pretty soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRPk5hPzNik&feature=youtu.be

Featured image courtesy of Fox News

About Desiree Huitt View All Posts

Desiree Huitt is an Army Veteran serving 11 years as a Military Intelligence officer and prior to OCS as a combat medic. She is a graduate from the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Middle Eastern Studies.

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