{"id":34509,"date":"2019-02-25T20:58:59","date_gmt":"2019-02-25T20:58:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/02\/25\/senator-probes-allegations-of-us-weapons-being-used-by-al-qaida-and-iran-linked-groups\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:02:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:02:59","slug":"senator-probes-allegations-of-us-weapons-being-used-by-al-qaida-and-iran-linked-groups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/02\/25\/senator-probes-allegations-of-us-weapons-being-used-by-al-qaida-and-iran-linked-groups\/","title":{"rendered":"This senator wants to know if US weapons are being used by al-Qaida and Iran-linked groups"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren sent a letter Friday to Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan<\/a> and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo<\/a> requesting information on the alleged transfer of American weapons to al-Qaida and Iran-aligned fighters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warren\u2019s inquiry was prompted by a CNN report <\/a>that \u201cSaudi Arabia and its coalition partners have transferred American-made weapons to al-Qaida-linked fighters, hardline Salafi militias, and other factions waging war in Yemen<\/a>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CNN investigation also alleged that U.S. equipment has fallen \u201cinto the hands of Iranian-backed rebels” fighting the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, “exposing some of America\u2019s sensitive military technology to Tehran and potentially endangering the lives of U.S. troops in other conflict zones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign governments receiving weapons and other defense articles from the U.S. are subject to agreements that prohibit the re-transfer of those weapons to third parties without prior authorization, Warren said in her letter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the foreign equipment CNN found to have been re-transferred were Oshkosh M-ATVs and MaxxPro MRAPs, both of which are built to withstand ballistic and improvised explosive devices. CNN also reported that locals confirmed Saudi and Emirate forces airdropped American-made TOW anti-tank missiles \u201con the same frontline where [al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula] had been known to operate at the time.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Marine sniper with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, provides security from the back of an M-ATV during a medical engagement as part of a pre-deployment exercise at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., May 15. The three-week exercise is designed to prepare MARSOC Marines for deployment to combat operations in Afghanistan by immersing them in an environment as realistic and comprehensive as possible. ( Cpl. Kyle McNally)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The al-Qaida-aligned Abu Abbas brigade now possesses U.S.-made Oshkosh vehicles, and Iranian-linked Houthi rebels have been filmed with a captured U.S.-made MRAP in the capital Sanaa, according to CNN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a public hearing on Feb. 11, Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Pentagon has \u201cnot authorized Saudi Arabia or the Emirates to re-transfer any of this equipment to other parties on the ground in Yemen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Votel added that the Defense Department has mechanisms to monitor and enforce end user restrictions, which includes surveys and conducting inventories of equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, there are processes in place with this. I would also highlight that in some of these cases, again, I think we have to look more closely at the allegations in this particular situation to find out what happened,\u201d Votel said. \u201cAs we\u2019ve seen in Iraq in the past, where we saw our partners overrun, we have seen American equipment provided to them, lost in the course of a fight, end up in the hands of our adversaries out there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Votel added that the Pentagon is aware of the responsibilities taken on by allied nations when they are allowed to use American equipment and said U.S. military officials \u201cemphasize that with our partners all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t