Report shows U.S. left behind $7 billion of military equipment in Afghanistan

(KYMA, KECY/ CNN) - A new Defense Department report estimates the military left behind nearly $7 billion worth of equipment in Afghanistan when it withdrew last year.

That number is close to half the $18.6 billion worth of gear troops brought into the country between 2005 and 2021.

It's viewed as particularly problematic because all that equipment fell into the hands of the Taliban -- who it was meant to help Afghanistan's military fight against.

The items left behind include aircraft, about 40,000 military vehicles, more than 300,000 weapons and close to 10,000 air-to-ground munitions.

Radio systems and nearly 42,000 pieces of specialized equipment including night vision gear are also among the items.