Security
US transfers seized Iranian weapons to Ukrainian forces
US and partner naval forces seized the munitions from four separate vessels that were smuggling arms from Iran to the Houthis in Yemen.
![On January 6, 2023, US forces intercepted a stateless dhow in the Gulf of Oman smuggling more than 2,000 AK-47 assault rifles while transiting international waters from Iran to Yemen. [CENTCOM]](/gc3/images/2024/04/18/46361-seized-weapons-iran-370_237.webp)
By Pishtaz |
The United States has transferred to Ukraine Iranian arms and ammunition US and partner nation forces seized from vessels that were en route to the Houthis, the US military said April 17.
"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," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
"These weapons will help Ukraine defend against Russia's invasion" and are sufficient to equip a brigade, it said.
The arms and ammunition were seized between May 2021 and February 2023 from four "stateless vessels" as the supplies were being transferred from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the Houthis, CENTCOM said.
The munitions were being transferred in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216.
"The government obtained ownership of these munitions on December 1, 2023, through the Department of Justice's civil forfeiture claims," it said.
"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," it added.
"We will continue to do whatever we can to shed light on and stop Iran's destabilizing activities."
The United States 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, AFP reported.
US officials have spearheaded the push for international support for Ukraine, quickly forging a coalition to back Kyiv after Russia's invasion in 2022, and coordinating aid from dozens of countries.
On March 12, the United States announced a $300 million assistance package for Kyiv that included anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons and artillery shells.
The United States has been by far Kyiv's biggest donor of security aid, committing tens of billions of dollars to aid Ukraine since Russia's invasion.
Ample evidence attests to Russia's use of Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, in its attacks on Ukraine.