Amidst reports of underperforming US-made drones in Ukraine, the United States has made a decision to send Iranian weapons to Kiev. These weapons, initially intended for Yemen, have now been intercepted and transferred to Ukraine. The US Central Command revealed that the stolen weapons included thousands of Kalashnikov assault rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers, sniper rifles, and over half a million rounds of ammunition.
According to the Pentagon, these weapons were seized from vessels off the coast of Yemen, en route to the Houthi militia, in violation of a United Nations arms embargo. The US government claimed ownership of the confiscated weapons through civil forfeiture claims by the Justice Department in December.
The US Central Command expressed commitment to countering the flow of Iranian lethal aid in the region by lawful means. Meanwhile, Russia has criticized Western arms shipments to Ukraine, denouncing them as fuel for prolonging the conflict. The US has provided Ukraine with $113 billion in various forms of assistance since the conflict began, much to Russia’s disapproval.
This development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with implications for regional and international security. The decision to repurpose Iranian weapons for Ukrainian forces reflects the complexities and dynamics at play in the geopolitical landscape.
