Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli foreign ministry: The vessels and the passengers are transferred to an Israeli port, and the passengers are expected to be deported promptly.
Sumud Flotilla: Addameer vessel attacked by an Israeli military helicopter with 93 journalists, doctors and activists on board
Freedom Flotilla Coalition: The Addameer Vessel was seized by the Israeli Navy
Israeli ministry of foreign affairs says ships and passengers of the Freedom Flotilla will be transferred to an Israeli port and deported immediately
Freedom Flotilla Coalition: 3 ships attacked and illegally intercepted by Israeli occupation.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa's motorcade comes under fire in Ecuador
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: Israeli quadcopter drops two shells on cafe in Houla town in South Lebanon
Informed source to Al Mayadeen: SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi demands that al-Sharaa approve the establishment of an autonomous region similar to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Israeli media: Three drones launched from Yemen toward Eilat in span of 20 minutes.
Qatari Foreign Ministry: "Israel" should have already ceased fire under Trump plan for Gaza

US claims depleted uranium shells been in use for decades

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Mar 2023 23:41
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

The United States is trying to cover up for the UK supplying depleted uranium shells to Ukraine by saying their use is commonplace.

  • x
  • US claims depleted uranium shells been in use for decades
     In this May 6, 2015, file photo, a caution sign hangs on a fence in front of a building that houses depleted uranium at the EnergySolutions facility in Clive, Utah. Utah's House of Representatives on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018 approved giving a $1.72 million tax break ever year to a Utah-based nuclear waste disposal company (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Depleted uranium munition is fairly commonplace, and it has been in use for decades, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said Wednesday while commenting on the decision of the British government to provide Kiev with armor-piercing shells for its Challenger 2 main battle tanks, including depleted uranium ammunition.  

"This kind of ammunition is fairly commonplace, been in use for decades," Kirby told reporters.

The US will let the UK speak for itself in terms of what sovereign decisions they are going to make about providing ammunition, he claimed.

"Alongside our granting of a squadron of Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, we will be providing ammunition including armor-piercing rounds which contain depleted uranium," Deputy Defense Minister Annabel Goldie told Parliament on Tuesday in response to a question from Lord Raymond Hylton. "Such rounds are highly effective in defeating modern tanks and armored vehicles."

The UK will transfer depleted uranium shells to Ukraine, said Deputy Defense Minister Annabel Goldie.

Such projectiles infect the area and can cause cancer. pic.twitter.com/QEPuFfdWDx

— Spriter (@spriter99880) March 21, 2023

In response to the UK's plan to deliver depleted uranium shells to Ukraine, Konstantin Gavrilov, the leader of the Russian delegation at the military security and weapons control negotiations in Vienna, told Sputnik that NATO has entirely lost touch with reality.

"The Anglo-Saxons have long adopted the principle that 'Everything is allowed against Russia,'" he added. 

Back in January, the United States refused to disclose whether Washington would give Ukraine depleted uranium anti-tank munition in light of the ongoing war in the country, The Intercept reported, citing the transcript of a press briefing.

The West is supplying depleted uranium shells despite there being mountains of evidence showing that the weapon causes cancer and birth defects.

Related News

Beijing: China–US trade talks to continue despite US shutdown

Trump, Carney discuss Golden Dome and defense cooperation

Read next: Tragic birth defects in Iraq caused by US radiation pollution: Expert

According to The Intercept, an unnamed reporter asked on January 25 unnamed "senior administration officials" at a background briefing whether the Bradley Fighting Vehicles Washington sent to Ukraine in the form of aid would be armed with the 25 mm armor-piercing depleted uranium rounds they are renowned for being able to fire.

Depleted uranium is a common byproduct of manufacturing nuclear fuel and weaponry, making it able to penetrate through the thick layers of a tank's armor and ignite everyone inside of it, though the radioactivity and toxicity of these rounds are believed to have caused birth defects, cancer, and other diseases, most notably in Iraq during the US war on the country. 

The US heavily used depleted uranium rounds in Iraq during the Gulf War, firing nearly a million rounds, and the subsequent years saw a spike in birth defects and cancers in the country.

Despite the cons of using depleted uranium, the West is unable to curb Ukraine from using it if it falls into its hands, as they are believed to be able to help Kiev against Russia's tanks.

Nuclear apocalypse looming closer

The deliveries of foreign weapons to Ukraine bring the possibility of a nuclear apocalypse closer to the world, said Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev during an interview.

"Every day of deliveries of foreign weapons to Ukraine ultimately brings this very nuclear apocalypse closer," Medvedev said.

Read next: Pentagon: Russia made no decisions to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine

Furthermore, the top Russian official said the threat of a nuclear conflict in the world has not passed, it has increased.

"Now seriously. Has the threat of a nuclear conflict passed? No, it has not passed, it has increased," he explained.

Read more: Putin: Risk of nuclear warfare on the rise

  • United States
  • Iraq
  • Russia
  • Depleted Uranium
  • United Kingdom
  • Ukraine
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
ap

'Israel' pays influencers $7K per post to whitewash Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
In this May 20, 20201, photo Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, arrives in Baghdad, Iraq (AP)
Politics

US spent $33 billion on post-Oct.7 genocide, wars, Brown Uni reports

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., holds a news conference to mark the seventh day of the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. (AP)
Politics

US troops face unpaid wages as government shutdown drags on

Mourners wave Hezbollah and a Palestinian flag during the funeral of Hezbollah former leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and his successor Sayyed Hashem Safieddine in the Sports City Stadium in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, February 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Hezbollah voices support for Gaza, Resistance on October 7 anniversary

Al-Aqsa Flood restored Palestinian cause on the global stage: Hamas
Politics

Al-Aqsa Flood restored Palestinian cause on the global stage: Hamas

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS