On April 4, the US military announced the transfer of personal weapons and over half a million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine. These items were confiscated from boats that were transporting them from Iran to Yemen. The transfer included more than 5,000 AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7 anti-tank guns, and ammunition.
The weapons and ammunition were confiscated by the US military from four ships that were blocked between May 2021 and February 2023. These items were being transferred by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to Houthi forces in Yemen. The US Army Central Command (CENTCOM) accused Iran of supporting armed groups in the Middle East that pose a threat to international and regional security.
Despite the significant replenishment of ammunition for Ukraine, the country still faces shortages of important military supplies like artillery shells and anti-aircraft missile shells. The decision to transfer these weapons was made as Ukraine awaited a delayed aid package from the US Congress and other Western countries. Tensions in the Middle East have escalated recently, with conflicts between Hamas and Israel, attacks on US forces by militias, and other incidents. General Michael Kurilla of CENTCOM described the situation in the region as the most unstable in 50 years and accused Iran of fueling the crisis. However, Iran has stated that they do not want war with the United States.
