Isis gloats after United States forces abandon kit in gun battle

U.S. troops and aircraft have been taking a more active role in a recent operation against Islamic State militants after U.S. President Barack Obama authorized more military support for the Afghan government.

On Tuesday, Brig. -Gen.

Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland, the deputy chief of staff for the US -led mission in Afghanistan, said the equipment was lost in the eastern province of Nangarhar while troops were moving the location of an area designated to handle casualties. The photo as well as the name on the cards is of U.S. Army soldier, Specialist Ryan Larson.

A rocket launcher, the ID card of a US soldier, grenades and other weapons can be seen in the pictures.

The news comes as the latest blow to US efforts in Afghanistan where troops are fighting alongside Afghan forces in an effort to take back territory from the Islamic State group in Nangarhar Province, which borders Pakistan.

Wounded troops had already been moved from the area at the time the equipment was left.

The equipment was lost while soldiers were relocating a casualty collection point to a safer location.

“For understandable reasons, the lives of soldiers were not put at risk to recover the equipment”.

General Charles Cleveland, US military spokesman, said that no personnel were killed or positions overrun.

It is not clear why the U.S. was not able to repel the incoming fire.

It has been a typical practice of the Taliban for many years to scour the battlefield for U.S. military gear and weapons, so it’s not known for certain where the items displayed came from. But a coalition official said that some of the equipment shown “is used” by Special Operations.

Three US soldiers suffered minor wounds when an IED struck their convoy while they were on patrol near Jalalabad.

The photos were released on ISIS terrorist channels on August 6 with the description: “Exclusive: Amaq Agency received photos in which American weapons and military equipment can be seen that have been captured by fighters of the Islamic State in Nangarhar”.