In a statement on Tuesday, the US military revealed its transfer of small arms and ammunition to Ukraine, intercepted en route from Iranian forces to rebels backed by Tehran in Yemen.
The recent transfer, occurring amidst Ukraine’s pressing ammunition scarcity and GOP lawmakers obstructing fresh aid, sought to mitigate the crisis. Nonetheless, it fails to meet Kyiv’s crucial demands for artillery and air defense munitions.
“The US government transferred over 5,000 AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s and over 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces” on Thursday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on social media.
“These weapons will help Ukraine defend against Russia’s invasion” and are enough material to equip a brigade, it said.
CENTCOM disclosed that the arms and ammunition were confiscated from four “stateless vessels” spanning from May 2021 to February 2023. These materials were interdicted while en route from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to Yemen’s Huthi rebels.
“The government obtained ownership of these munitions on December 1, 2023, through the Department of Justice’s civil forfeiture claims,” it said.
Since November 2023, the Huthis have engaged in targeting vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza as their rationale. This poses a significant international security threat, endangering a crucial maritime thoroughfare.
“Iran’s support for armed groups threatens international and regional security, our forces, diplomatic personnel, and citizens in the region, as well as those of our partners. We will continue to do whatever we can to shed light on and stop Iran’s destabilizing activities,” CENTCOM said.
Washington made a similar transfer to Ukraine in early October, providing 1.1 million rounds of 7.62mm ammunition that was seized from Iranian forces on the way to Yemen.
But funding for crucial artillery and air defense munitions for Ukraine has been held up by Republican lawmakers who have stalled a $60 billion support package in the US Congress since last year.
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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testified during a Senate hearing Tuesday that Washington not living up to its commitment to Kyiv would encourage America’s foes.
“It would be a signal that the United States is an unreliable partner, and that would encourage and embolden autocrats around the globe to do the types of things that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has done,” Austin said.
The United States revealed a $300 million aid package for Kyiv on March 12, the first assistance since December. This aid package included anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons, as well as artillery shells. However, authorities warned that the assistance would only last for a few weeks.
The funding for that package was sourced from money saved by the Pentagon on other procurements, enabling the US government to deliver aid despite the congressional deadlock.
US officials have taken the lead in rallying international support for Ukraine, swiftly forming a coalition to support Kyiv following Russia’s invasion in 2022 and orchestrating aid from numerous countries.
Washington has stood out as Kyiv’s primary benefactor of security aid, pledging tens of billions of dollars to assist Ukraine since the invasion.