PHOTO FILE: Exotics on the battlefield

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Wars are currently mainly fought in countries where the Kalashnikov is the most widespread weapon. It is all the more exotic when Western weapons appear in images. The reasons for this can be quite different. If the Bundeswehr lost a G3 DMR in Afghanistan, we probably found it in the hands of a Taliban here. The G3 DMR is used by the Bundeswehr sniper teams to engage targets at distances of up to 600 m or provide suppressive fire up to 800 m. The image appeared on one of their websites at the time of the Taliban's conquest of Kunduz. It can be assumed here that it is a unique piece in enemy hands.

If a modern M240L US machine gun is seen in the hands of a proud fighter of the Al Nusra Front in Syria, something must have gone seriously wrong. This photo is also about six months old, it documents the delivery of modern US weapons by the CIA to Syria. No, the local Al-Qaeda affiliate was not directly supplied, but rather a group that is "democratic" and not as hostile to the West. Their route to the front was diverted by the Al Nusra Front, so they bought passage on the road with two trucks full of weapons and ammunition. A not uncommon trade-off in a country where small factions change so quickly - and their weapons with them - that observers can hardly say where weapons delivered to parties in conflict ultimately end up.

With their pointed hats, the fighters of the Islamic State look a bit like terror elves. It is no wonder that one of them is sniping with an American M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle here. It probably was part of the weapons left behind by the fleeing Iraqi divisions. Spoils of war make up a large part of Daesh's arsenal.

The Steyr HS 1 is probably not the one pictured, but rather an Iranian replica that is probably embarrassing for the Austrian weapons producer. Steyr had legally sold 800 units of the weapon in 2004 - to Iran, which subsequently began producing them. Since .50 caliber sniper rifles are of deadly efficiency due to their power and range, they are accordingly in demand. The HS 1 clones are mainly seen where Iran supports troops, including with Hezbollah in Syria and other Shiite militias.

The wonderful Steyr AUG is also causing a stir - on the left, seen with a child soldier after shooting, and on the right, in the hands of a German suicide attacker in Syria. Steyr remains silent, but it is clear that these are weapons that were sold to Saudi Arabia long ago, the markings on the weapon do not lie. From there, they were issued as support to factions in the Syrian civil war. They can be seen deployed as a kind of DMR sniper rifle on the front lines, but also as exotic luxury items for commanders. Western 5.56 ammunition is not a given in Syria, but it's always "cool" to have something better than your subordinates.

Steyr AUGs are appearing now because they are used by Islamic State fighters. Here too, the weapons pass through many hands once they are in a conflict zone. Captured, taken, bought - ultimately ending up with Daesh. ISIS rarely but sometimes does use this regionally quite exotic weapon.

In Afghanistan, Taliban militants captured a weapon from US Special Forces: an FN SCAR H with optics and an AN/PEQ-15 laser box.

A weapon like this, another piece shown here and in the hands of the Islamic State in Afghanistan, is used demonstratively in propaganda to show that the weapon was taken from the enemy.