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
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza's hospitals recorded six deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, all of them adults
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: A new chapter in relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will begin within the framework of the new law passed by Parliament

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

Iraq’s PMF law seen as test of sovereignty amid US objections

Notorious Palantir lands record $10bln contract with the US Army

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

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
An explosion seen during an Iranian missile attack on Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

If Iran is attacked again, geography of response may change: IRGC spox

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

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