The United States has handed over to Ukraine small arms and ammunition that were seized during their transfer by Iranian forces to Tehran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, the US military said, AFP reported.
Last week's transfer came at a time when Ukraine is suffering a significant ammunition shortage and US Republican lawmakers are blocking new aid, but it falls short of Kiev's need for key items such as artillery and air defense ammunition.
"The U.S. 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," the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on social media.
"These weapons will help Ukraine defend itself from Russian invasion" and are enough material to equip a brigade, the message said,
The weapons and ammunition were seized between May 2021 and February 2023 from four "stateless ships" while being transferred from Iran's Revolutionary Guards to Houthi rebels in Yemen, CENTCOM said.
The Houthis have attacked ships in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea since November 2023 in raids they say are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, a major international security challenge that threatens a major sea lane.
"Iran's support for armed groups threatens international and regional security, our forces, diplomatic personnel and citizens in the region, and those of our partners. We will continue to do what we can to shine a light on Iran's destabilizing activities and stop them," CENTCOM said. / BGNES
