U.S. redirects seized Iranian arms to Ukraine in strategic boon
The Ukrainian military recently received a significant shipment of weapons originally from a country allied with Russia. The United States Central Command has disclosed that it has provided the Ukrainians with over 5,000 rifles, grenade launchers, and roughly half a million rounds of firearm ammunition. These were seized from Iran.
The handover of these weapons occurred last week, capturing equipment in 2023 intended for the Yemeni Houthi militia.
According to the Central Command on the X platform, the cache includes 5,000 AK-47 rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, and RPG-7 grenade launchers, along with over 500,000 rounds of 7.62 mm calibre ammunition.
"This arsenal is sufficient to arm a Ukrainian brigade with rifles fully. These weapons will aid Ukraine in defending against the Russian onslaught," read the statement.
Iranian weapons supplied to Ukrainians, a positive update from the US
The US Navy and allied countries seized these weapons, intended by the Tehran authorities for Yemeni Houthi fighters, during four maritime interceptions. These operations spanned from May to February 2023.
The intervention resulted from violations of UN Security Council resolutions. Following legal proceedings against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, the weapons were lawfully transferred to US possession on December 1.
This transaction marks at least the second occasion Iranian weapons have been reallocated to Ukraine. Last October, the Pentagon delivered over 1.1 million rounds of 7.62 mm calibre ammunition to Ukraine, which were also initially destined for Yemeni rebels.
Source: PAP
