Video Shows ISIS Using U.S. TOW Anti-Tank Missiles in Capture of Palmyra

A two-part video published earlier today shows ISIS using U.S. TOW anti-tank missiles during the capture of the Syrian town of Palmyra last month.

Entitled “The Raid of Abu Malik Tamimi,” the videos also show ISIS using tanks, rocket launchers, howitzers and other heavy weaponry in their attack on the town.

The TOW makes its appearance ~2:28 in Part 2 of the video below (WARNING – GRAPHIC SCENES):

Presumably, most of these weapons have been obtained by ISIS in their victories against Syrian and Iraqi military and U.S.-backed so-called “vetted moderate” Syrian rebel groups.

Over the past year I’ve reported here at PJ Media about the defections and surrender of “vetted moderate” groups and leaders to ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra, Al-Qaeda’s official affiliate in Syria. In particular I have noted the capture and use of CIA-provided TOW missiles by Jabhat al-Nusra:

Dec 2: US-Backed Syrian Rebels Ally with Al-Qaeda in South, Surrender CIA-Supplied Weapons in the North

Dec 14: Report: Al-Qaeda Using CIA-Supplied TOW Anti-Tank Missiles in Northern Syria

March 3: U.S.-Backed Syrian Rebel Group Collapses, U.S.-Supplied Weapons End Up in Al-Qaeda Hands

March 24: Video Shows Al-Qaeda’s Jabhat al-Nusra Using U.S.-Provided TOW Anti-Tank Missiles in Syria

So now we have conclusive proof of both Al-Qaeda and ISIS using TOW missiles that had been provided to U.S.-backed “vetted moderate” groups. The CIA program to supply these “vetted moderate” groups with TOW systems began in April 2014, meaning that it took less than a year for these heavy weapons to end up in the hands of designated terror groups.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi admitted recently that the Iraqi army lost 2,300 Humvees that had been provided by the U.S. to ISIS in their seizure of Mosul a year ago. Other reports indicate that ISIS has also obtained 40 M1A1 tanks, 74,000 machine guns, and 52 M198 Howitzer mobile gun systems.

When U.S. weapons now in the hands of terrorist groups end up killing American soldiers and civilians, who will answer for this growing blowback?

UPDATE: Some idea of where ISIS might have obtained those TOW missile systems:

https://twitter.com/RamiAlLolah/status/592369688937660416

Also important to note that the TOW is being used against ISIS as well:

https://twitter.com/lievan_tem/status/606220417162870784