Zelenskyy's anti-drone missiles claim fuels speculation on US role in Israel's attack on Iran
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier confirmed on June 8 that 20,000 anti-drone missiles, originally promised to Ukraine, were diverted to US forces in the Middle East by the Trump administration.
This redirection has raised questions about the role US played in the unprovoked attack on Iran by Israel, particularly regarding military preparations in the region.
The missiles were part of an agreement between Ukraine and the US to help counter the drone attacks launched by Russia, specifically targeting Ukrainian cities with Iranian-designed Shahed drones.
However, Zelenskyy stated that the Trump administration, under Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, made the decision to send these critical munitions to American forces in the Middle East, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Ukraine had been anticipating the arrival of the 20,000 anti-drone missiles to address the ongoing threat from Russia’s drone warfare.
Zelenskyy noted the significance of the missiles in an interview with ABC news, describing them as “not expensive, but special technology” crucial in the fight against Russia’s Shahed-type drones.
President Zelenskyy:
We counted on 20,000 missiles for Ukraine to fight Shahed drones [promised by the previous US administration].
The United States now moved them to the Middle East." pic.twitter.com/9cDlsk6Hw7The timing of the diversion coincides with Israel's attack on Iran, with many raising concerns over US military involvement in the Middle East.
The US response to Israel's assault on Iran was equally firm, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating, "We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region."
Statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio
“Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its… pic.twitter.com/5FFesh3dkFIsrael's unwarranted attack has been condemned by several nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkiye.
However, US President Donald Trump was very stringent in his message, boldly proclaiming "Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table."
LATEST: Pres. Trump told Fox News that "Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb," and says that "we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table" with Iran.https://t.co/6E5azoWd1h
Russia’s drone attacks on Ukraine show no sign of abating. Moscow has also been ramping up its drone production and adding new launch sites, according to The Kyiv Independent.
In response, Zelenskyy urged Western nations to expedite their military support to Ukraine, calling on the US to step up its efforts.
Zelenskyy’s comments highlight the growing speculation on the nature of US-Israel relations, with Iran's supreme leader Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei claiming Israel should anticipate a 'severe punishment.'
That [Zionist] regime should anticipate a severe punishment .By God’s grace, the powerful arm of the Islamic Republic’s Armed Forces won’t let them go unpunished.