27 C
Dubai
Thursday, December 5, 2024
spot_img

World News | U.S. is considering supplying Ukraine with cluster munitions, senior U.S. military official says

[ad_1]

Streaks of light seen in California. (Photo credit: Video Grab)

WASHINGTON, June 30 (Xinhua) — The United States is considering supplying Ukraine with cluster munitions, a senior U.S. military official said Friday.

Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. had been considering supplying the munitions “for a long time.”

Read also | Bangkok shock: A woman has lost a leg as rescuers amputated it to free her when she was trapped in a moving walkway at Don Mueang International Airport.

He noted that Russian forces are using these weapons on Ukrainian battlefields, and Ukrainian forces have also received cluster bombs from other allies and deployed them.

Milley told the National Press Club that discussions are continuing.

Read also | WhatsApp feature update: The messaging platform owned by Yuan now allows users to transfer chat history between devices on the same operating system.

“The Ukrainians requested it, other European countries provided some of it, and the Russians are using it,” Milley said. “The decision-making process is ongoing.”

He also dismissed concerns that the Ukrainian counteroffensive was moving too slowly. Miller said he thinks the initial campaign will take six to 10 weeks. “It’s going to be very difficult. It’s going to be a long time,” Milley said. “Nobody should have any illusions about that.”

As they consider whether to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions, some U.S. officials are concerned about the slow progress of the long-awaited counteroffensive. Any decision to supply such weapons would draw opposition from other allies and humanitarian groups.

Cluster bombs are weapons that open in the air to release sub-munitions, or “small bombs,” that are spread over a large area and designed to cause damage to multiple targets simultaneously.

According to the ICRC, the bombs can be delivered by aircraft, artillery and missiles. According to the ICRC, “small bombs” have a high failure rate, as high as 40 percent in some recent conflicts.

Proponents of a ban on cluster bombs say they cause indiscriminate killing and endanger civilians long after they are used. Several groups have sounded the alarm over Russia’s use of the munitions in Ukraine.

Most Western officials would not publicly suggest that Ukraine’s counteroffensive is moving too slowly, but there is a growing sense that Ukraine needs to seize on weather, ground conditions and any impact last weekend’s insurgency might have on Russia’s military cohesion.

If Russian President Vladimir Putin goes after officials who may be sympathetic to mercenary group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian military will now have to absorb Wagner’s troops into its ranks and make command adjustments . Even before Prigozhin’s rebellion, the Russian military was dealing with logistical and morale challenges.

While the U.S. has stressed that when and where Ukraine takes action is entirely up to the U.S., there are concerns that Ukraine has not acted sooner. The U.S. and Western allies have been training and equipping Ukrainian troops for months in anticipation of combat, but many of those troops have yet to fight.

Ukrainian advances have been slowed by dense minefields and other obstacles defending Russian lines, but the Biden administration has provided equipment to help overcome the problem, a U.S. official said. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a syndicated news feed, the latest staff may not have revised or edited the body of content)


[ad_2]

Source link

Related Articles

Biden Landmark Africa Visit: Strengthening U.S.-Angola Ties for a Prosperous Future

Biden Ignites a New Era in U.S.-Africa Relations with Landmark Angola Visit President Joe Biden’s visit to Angola marks a pivotal moment in U.S.-Africa relations,...

Syrian Rebels Seize Aleppo: Devastating Blow to Assad Regime Amid Escalating Crisis

Syrian Insurgents Deliver Crushing Blow to Assad Government, Aleppo Falls into Turmoi The ongoing conflict in Aleppo has taken a dramatic turn as Syrian insurgents...

EU Strengthens Financial Oversight: New Regulations to Enhance Transparency and Combat Money Laundering

EU is moving towards implementing tighter financial regulations, reflecting a growing emphasis on improving transparency and combatting illicit financial activities. This push for stricter oversight...

PM Modi Strengthens Global Ties: Successful Three-Nation Tour Boosts India’s International Influence.

PM Modi Triumphant Return: Strengthening Global Ties with Successful Three-Nation Tour covering Nigeria, Brazil, and Guyana. Prime Minister Narendra PM Modi has returned to India...

Chile Leads the Way in Green Energy: Solar and Wind Power Now Generate 44% of the Nation’s Electricity

Chile has taken a significant leap forward in its pursuit of sustainability, with solar and wind power now generating 44% of the nation’s electricity. This...

Latest Articles