5-10-2023 (WASHINGTON) The United States has delivered more than 1 million rounds of Iranian ammunition to Ukraine, as confirmed by the US military on Wednesday, October 4.
For several years, US naval forces have been intercepting weapons that were believed to be en route to Iran and intended for Iran-backed combatants in Yemen. These weapons shipments have often been transported via fishing vessels.
US Central Command, responsible for military operations in the Middle East, revealed that approximately 1.1 million 7.62mm rounds of ammunition have been dispatched to Ukraine. This ammunition was originally confiscated by US naval forces in December 2022, as it was being transferred from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to Houthi forces in Yemen.
“The US is committed to working with our allies and partners to counter the flow of Iranian lethal aid in the region by all lawful means, including US and UN sanctions and through interdictions,” the statement from Central Command emphasized.
The delivered ammunition is unlikely to have a significant impact on the battlefield, especially as Ukraine’s priorities revolve around acquiring long-range weaponry and air defense systems.
Moreover, this transfer of seized ammunition is unlikely to alleviate concerns about the continued supply of Western arms to Kyiv. In a recent stopgap US spending bill passed to prevent a government shutdown, Congress allocated no new funds for Ukraine. This underlines the growing reluctance among some Republicans to provide financial support to Kyiv.
Last year, Britain’s Royal Navy reported that one of its warships had intercepted Iranian weapons, including surface-to-air missiles and engines for cruise missiles, from smugglers in international waters south of Iran.
Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating conflict since 2015, with the Houthi movement pitted against a Saudi-led coalition. This protracted conflict has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and left 80% of the population reliant on humanitarian aid.
The United States has exerted pressure on its ally, Saudi Arabia, to end its involvement in the war and has tied some of its military support to the kingdom to the condition that it ceases its participation in Yemen. This move reflects a broader international effort to mitigate the suffering caused by the ongoing conflict in Yemen.
