Biden Administration Provides Ukraine with Seized Iranian-Made Weapons Amidst Aid Package Delays

Pentagon Provides Thousands of Iranian-Made Weapons to Ukraine amid Aid Package Delays

Emergency Military Support Provided

The Pentagon has provided Ukraine with thousands of Iranian-made weapons to combat Houthi militants in Yemen, according to U.S. officials. This comes as the Biden administration aims to offer emergency military support to Kyiv while awaiting the approval of a multibillion-dollar aid package that has been stalled in the Republican-led House.

Weapon Types and Quantity

The weapons transferred to Ukraine include 5,000 Kalashnikov rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, and rocket-propelled grenades, alongside half a million rounds of ammunition. These weapons were seized from four “stateless vessels” between 2021 and 2023. The transfer became possible through a civil forfeiture program established by the Justice Department, targeting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The U.S. Central Command, responsible for military operations in the Middle East, confirmed the details.

Intended Recipients and Purpose

Officials revealed that the Iranian-made weapons were intended for the Houthi rebels, as they continued their assault on commercial and military vessels in the Arabian Peninsula. The cache has the potential to arm an entire Ukrainian brigade, which usually consists of several thousand soldiers.

Limited Arsenal and Russian Aggression

However, Ukraine’s utmost needs on the battlefield, including artillery ammunition and air defense weapons, remain unfulfilled. The Russian forces, supported by devastating glide bombs, persist in their assault on Ukrainian lines in pursuit of capturing more territory in the eastern part of the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed that their military, grappling with dwindling ammunition stocks, is determined to resist rather than retreat.

Potential Aid Package and Its Delay

Despite awaiting the stalled approval of the multibillion-dollar aid package in the Republican-led House, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) plans to introduce a proposal for additional Ukraine aid this month. However, the date for voting on the proposed bill remains undisclosed.

Transfer Procedure and Weapon Condition

The recently transferred Iranian-made weaponry was meticulously inspected to ensure safety and operational capability, assured a U.S. defense official. Ukrainian troops had previously expressed frustrations regarding the conditions of some U.S. and Western-provided weapons, which were often sourced from older warehouse supplies.

Urgent Need for U.S. Military Aid

In light of the escalating risks in Ukraine, U.S. officials have increasingly emphasized the urgent necessity for additional military aid to prevent the dire consequences of Ukraine’s potential defeat. The United States has been the largest arms supplier to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion of the country two years ago.

Elevating Security Concerns

Consequently, the situation on the battlefield has prompted officials in Washington and throughout Europe to reassess the risks to their own security while continuing to provide assistance to Ukraine.

Recent Aid and Budget-Friendly Solution

Last month, the Pentagon announced its plan to allocate an additional $300 million worth of arms to support Ukraine. This action was made possible due to cost savings discovered in recent arms agreements. The aid package has been among the last supplies sent to Ukraine thus far.

Contributors to this report: Abigail Hauslohner, Dan Lamothe, and Missy Ryan.