From US Central Command
A photograph distributed by U.S. Central Command posted on X exhibits weapons seized from Iran and transferred to Ukraine by the U.S. authorities on April 4.
CNN —
The United States transferred to Ukraine 1000’s of machine weapons, sniper rifles, rocket launchers and lots of of 1000’s of rounds of ammunition seized from Iran final week, U.S. Central Command introduced Tuesday.
Ukraine is affected by shortages of arms and ammunition within the conflict in opposition to Russia, and the United States can not ship extra tools from its personal stockpile till Congress approves further funding.
Centcom mentioned the provides transferred to Ukraine are sufficient to equip one Ukrainian brigade (roughly 4,000 individuals) with small arms rifles. “These weapons will assist Ukraine defend in opposition to Russian aggression,” Centcom mentioned in his assertion.
The ammunition was initially seized by the U.S. navy and its companions “from 4 separate stateless vessels in transit between May 22, 2021 and February 15, 2023,” however the U.S. authorities It didn’t take possession of the tools till December 2021 by means of the Department of Justice’s civil forfeiture course of. Last 12 months, CENTCOM acknowledged:
This isn’t the primary time that the US has transferred seized Iranian navy tools to Ukrainians. CNN beforehand reported that the US transferred greater than 1 million rounds of Iranian ammunition seized in October to the Ukrainian navy.
Over the previous 12 months, the U.S. Navy has seized 1000’s of Iranian-made assault rifles and greater than 1 million rounds of ammunition from ships utilized by Iran to move arms to Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. . The seizures, that are incessantly carried out with associate forces within the area, goal stateless small vessels on routes which have traditionally been used to smuggle weapons to the Houthis.
The Biden administration has continued efforts over the previous 12 months to legally ship confiscated weapons saved in Centcom amenities throughout the Middle East to Ukrainians.