US sends weapons and ammunition seized from Iran to Ukraine

"The US government has transferred more than 5,000 AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s and more than 500,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces," the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on social media, according to AFP. The handover was carried out on April 4.

“This amount of weapons will help Ukraine defend in a war with Russia” and is enough to equip a brigade, according to CENTCOM.

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The move comes amid a significant ammunition shortage in Ukraine and continued US Republican lawmakers blocking new aid to Kyiv. But the latest deliveries fall short of Kyiv’s need for critical equipment such as artillery and anti-aircraft ammunition.

CENTCOM said the above weapons and ammunition were confiscated by the US from four "stateless vessels" between May 2021 and February 2023, when they were transferred by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to Houthi forces in Yemen.

Houthi supporters gathered in Yemen's capital Sanaa on April 5.

"The US government took possession of these weapons on December 1, 2023, through a civil forfeiture request by the US Department of Justice ," CENTCOM said.

The Houthis, a political -military group that controls part of Yemen, have targeted ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023, in attacks they say are intended to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

"Iran's support for armed groups threatens international and regional security, endangering our military, diplomatic personnel, and citizens, as well as those of our regional partners. We will continue to do whatever we can to expose and deter Iran's destabilizing activities," CENTCOM said.

There was no immediate comment from Iran or the Houthis. Tehran has publicly supported the Houthis but has denied providing them with weapons or training.

Washington made a similar transfer to Kyiv in early October 2023, providing 1.1 million rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition that the US said it captured from Iranian forces en route to Yemen.

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Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/my-gui-vu-khi-dan-duoc-tich-thu-cua-iran-toi-ukraine-18524040920061595.htm