The U.S. decided to transfer weapons and ammunition confiscated from Iran to Ukraine. On Monday, October 2, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) transferred over one million rounds of ammunition, confiscated from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, to Ukraine, with more weapons and ammunition to follow. The munitions were seized in December 2022 from a stateless ship en route to Yemen. The U.S. government gained ownership through civil forfeiture, a process by which assets can be seized if the owner is thought to be engaged in criminal activity. The shipment was allegedly intended for Houthi rebels, one of the factions in Yemen’s ongoing civil war, which is backed by Iran’s Revolutionary Republican Guard Corps, while the internationally recognized government forces are supported by Saudi Arabia. Iran has also supplied Russia with arms, including Shahed drones, and so there is no small irony in a weapons shipment intended for an Iranian ally being diverted to Ukraine.

About the Author

Cam

Cam served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, deploying to the Horn of Africa and participating in combat operations in Iraq. He currently works in the maritime industry and in the defense sector as an instructor of combined arms planning and operations. An avid sailor, Cam founded and directs Triumph Sailing, a nonprofit that supports veterans and first responders through adventure and fellowship on the water. Triumph Sailing is preparing for its big yearly event, an offshore race in the Gulf of Mexico with an all veteran crew. You can support the mission at Tri-Sail.Org.