US and partner forces have seized over 5,000 weapons, 1.6 million rounds of ammunition, 7,000 rocket fuses, 23 anti-tank guided missiles, and thousands of kilograms of propellant used to fire rocket-propelled grenades in recent months alone in the Middle East.
Tim Hawkins, a public affairs officer with the US Naval Forces Central Command, said that the fate of the seized weapons depends on several factors, including the type of weaponry and the safety risks posed by it. Seized weapons have been transferred to third-party entities for destruction, forensic analysis or for further investigations. Some have been detonated at sea. US and partner forces prevented 9,000 weapons from reaching Yemen in 2021, according to US Central Command, which represents a 200% increase from 2020. Tehran has armed Moscow’s forces with explosive suicide drones that are used in Ukraine’s ongoing conflict.
Why don’t we give them to Ukraine? The price was right and they are familiar with the systems.