Amidst the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the United States has taken a significant step by transferring a substantial amount of seized weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. According to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM), thousands of infantry weapons and over 500,000 rounds of ammunition were handed over to Ukrainian forces last week.
These weapons and ammunition were initially seized over a year ago by the US military. They were intercepted while being shipped by Iran to Houthi forces in Yemen. The transferred arsenal includes machine guns, sniper rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers (RPG-7s), and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition. The provision of these arms is aimed at bolstering Ukraine's defence capabilities against Russian aggression.
Ukraine has been facing shortages of weapons and munitions on the battlefield in its conflict with Russia. The additional supply of arms from the United States is expected to provide much-needed support to Ukrainian forces. However, due to budgetary constraints, the US is unable to send more equipment from its stockpiles until Congress approves additional funding.
The material transferred to Ukraine is said to be sufficient to equip one Ukrainian brigade, comprising approximately 4,000 personnel, with small-arms rifles. This move underscores the US commitment to supporting Ukraine's defence efforts amidst the ongoing crisis in the region.
The seized weapons and ammunition were originally confiscated by the US military and its partners from stateless vessels between May 2021 and February 2023. However, the US government did not gain ownership of the equipment until December of the previous year, following the Justice Department's civil forfeiture process.
This is not the first instance of the US transferring seized Iranian military equipment to Ukraine. In October, over one million rounds of seized Iranian ammunition were provided to the Ukrainian armed forces. The US Navy has been actively intercepting Iranian weapons shipments destined for Houthi rebels in Yemen, seizing thousands of assault rifles and ammunition over the past year.
The Biden administration has been working diligently to legally transfer the seized weapons, which were stored in CENTCOM facilities across the Middle East, to Ukraine. This latest transfer of arms underscores the US commitment to supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of external aggression.
Overall, the provision of seized weapons and ammunition to Ukraine represents a significant step in strengthening the country's defence capabilities and deterring further aggression from Russia. It highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing security challenges and promoting peace and stability in the region.
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