The article discusses the possibility of the U.S. military sending thousands of seized weapons and over a million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine, which would help Kyiv fight against Russian forces. The weapons and ammunition were originally bound for Iran-backed fighters in Yemen, but they were seized by the U.S. and France in recent months. U.S. officials are considering sending more than 5,000 assault rifles, 1.6 million rounds of small arms ammunition, a small number of antitank missiles, and more than 7,000 proximity fuses to Ukraine.
The move would provide a new supply of firepower to America and its allies as they try to support Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. However, the Biden administration must find a legal justification for taking weapons from one conflict and transferring them to another, as the U.N. arms embargo requires the U.S. and its allies to destroy, store, or get rid of seized weapons. The administration's lawyers have been reviewing the resolution to determine whether there is any way to transfer the weapons to Ukraine.
The article notes that there is precedent for the U.S. to use asset forfeiture laws to seize Iranian weapons, and there is bipartisan support in Washington for the idea of sending the confiscated weapons to Ukraine. Although the volume of seized armaments may not make a significant difference in the war effort, it would send a message to Iran and allow the U.S. to redirect other types of weapons seized off the Yemen coast if needed by Ukraine.
The U.S. and its NATO allies have been discussing new ways to speed up the flow of weapons to Ukraine to address the military supply shortage caused by the conflict with Russia. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has stated that the current rate of Ukraine's ammunition expenditure is many times higher than the current rate of production, putting defense industries under strain.
The article also highlights the ongoing conflict between Iran and Yemen, with Iran supplying military aid to Houthi fighters in Yemen in violation of the U.N. arms embargo. The U.N. has identified Iran as the most likely source of missiles, drones, rockets, and small arms that have helped the Houthis fight against Saudi-backed Yemeni forces. The Houthis have repeatedly fired missiles and drones into Saudi Arabia in recent years, causing significant damage and casualties.
Comments