PENTAGON CONSIDERS REDIRECTING UKRAINE MILITARY AID TO MIDDLE EAST AMID IRAN CONFLICT

Thu 26 March 2026:

The Pentagon is reportedly considering diverting weapons originally intended for Ukraine to the Middle East as U.S. operations in Iran strain supplies of critical munitions, according to a Washington Post report citing three sources familiar with the matter.

The weapons potentially affected include air defense interceptor missiles purchased through a NATO-backed initiative launched last year, under which partner countries acquire U.S. arms for Kyiv.

Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, said on Wednesday that U.S. forces had struck over 10,000 targets inside Iran, aiming to restrict Iran’s ability to project power beyond its borders.

A Pentagon spokesperson emphasized that the Defense Department will “ensure that U.S. forces and those of our allies and partners have what they need to fight and win.”

A NATO official told reporters that alliance members and partners remain committed to the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program, which funds the delivery of U.S. military equipment to Kyiv. “Equipment is continuously flowing into Ukraine,” the official said, adding that several billion dollars in contributions have already been pledged, with more expected in the future.

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US building up forces in Middle East despite talk of negotiations

By Teresa Bo reporting from Washington, DC, US

Even as the Trump administration insists that negotiations are under way, the US government is continuing to send troops to the Middle East.

For the past few days, we have been reporting on how Marines are being sent to the region – some 2,500 from California, with three warships. These are special operations forces.

And now we’re hearing that the 82nd Airborne Division will be deployed, too. This is a rapid response unit that can be deployed in about 24 hours. They are involved in special operations, and there’s a lot of speculation about what they’re going to be doing there.

Some are saying they could be involved in operations on Kharg island. This has been referred to by Trump as the jewel of the crown, the place where Iran exports most of its oil.

It would be an extremely difficult operation, mostly because it would mean that US forces would probably engage with Iran. And this is highly unpopular here in the US. It’s called putting boots on the ground. So certainly, we’re seeing the Trump administration increasing the rhetoric while deploying more troops, and also saying there are negotiations under way.

But most people here in the US just want to know how long this war is going to last.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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