The U.S. military disclosed today that the Pentagon has successfully transferred over 1 million rounds of ammunition, originally seized from Iran, to Ukraine. This strategic move is aimed at bolstering Kyiv’s forces as they seek to break through Russia’s defensive positions before the onset of winter. This action is especially crucial as political conflicts within Congress threaten to hinder or even halt aid to Ukraine.
Recently, disputes within the House of Representatives have put Ukraine’s funding in jeopardy. A faction of staunch Republican members has opposed any additional assistance to Ukraine in the ongoing conflict. Over the weekend, lawmakers managed to pass an emergency spending bill to prevent a government shutdown until mid-November. However, this legislation did not include provisions for Ukraine’s funding.
The shipment of 1.1 million rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces has been in the planning stages for several months, according to Capt. Abigail Hammock, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command.
These munitions, compatible with AK-47 rifles, were initially seized by U.S. Navy forces from a stateless dhow en route from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to the Houthis in Yemen on December 9, 2023. The U.S. government took possession of these munitions through civil forfeiture claims filed against the IRGC by the Department of Justice on July 20.
A statement emphasized the U.S. commitment to collaborate with allies and partners to counter the flow of Iranian lethal aid in the region, employing lawful means such as U.S. and U.N. sanctions and interdiction efforts.
Despite the transfer, the Pentagon faces financial constraints. It has $5.4 billion in funding authority remaining to send weapons to Ukraine but only $1.6 billion to replenish its own stockpiles, as per Sabrina Singh, a spokesperson. This funding is expected to run out soon unless Congress takes action to authorize additional resources. Singh stressed the importance of congressional action to ensure uninterrupted support for Ukraine’s battlefield requirements.
Limaaseh, Zelenskyy is a tzaddik and deserves all our hard earned tax dollars.