Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced on May 31 that Iraqi security forces lost massive military stockpiles when the Islamic State took the city of Mosul last year.

When the city fell, reports quickly surfaced about the full-scale panicked retreat from northern Iraq. Soldiers couldn’t tear off their uniforms fast enough as they raced south to Baghdad. As a result, the Islamic State gained an enormous weapons stockpile enabling it to carry on the ensuing war.

In an interview with state tv, Abadi said, “We lost 2,300 Humvees in Mosul alone.” More weapons, ammunition and supplies were undoubtedly lost along the road south and in the towns and villages that fell to the terrorists.

Before the president made his comments, it was speculated that the Islamic State had made major advances in its military due to the equipment left behind by Iraqi forces. If the president’s comments are true, then the numbers are significantly higher than most suspected.

Last year the United States State Department approved a sale of 1,000 Humvees to Iraq. The machines were equipped with machine guns, grenade launchers and other military technology. The estimated cost was $579 million. Going off that number, it is safe to say that the Islamic State’s 2,300 Humvees were a $1 billion gift—courtesy of the U.S. and the Iraqi military.

At the same time the Islamic State took possession of Mosul’s military gear, it simultaneously took possession of its oil fields, banks and other resources—turning it instantly into the richest terrorist organization in the world.

What this should tell us is more than just the ineptitude of the Iraqi military—it should highlight the volatility of the Middle East.

The Islamic State went from just another terrorist organization to a well-armed and -financed operation that controlled multiple cities in multiple countries. And it did so in just a matter of days. It exposes the fragile nature of the Middle East, where power can shift rapidly. After all, those 2,300 Humvees were tools of a U.S.-trained and -armed military force one day, and the weapons of terrorists the next.

In similar manner, Iraq went from a post-occupation democracy to a war zone again within a matter of days. The nation was cut in half by the Islamic State when the terrorist group rose to power.

The seizure of the Humvees should remind us how quickly the reins of power can shift. It is imperative that we continue to watch these fast-moving events in the Middle East. The Trumpet seeks to keep you informed on events as they play into Bible prophecy. Many such prophecies have been or are about to be fulfilled. The ruling powers of the Middle East are set to change rapidly—faster even than the rise of the Islamic State.

We need to remember how quickly northern Iraq fell to the Islamic State, and watch closely. If a ragtag terrorist outfit can do so much so quickly, how much more could aggressive nations do to shift that balance of power?