Ukraine Aid Package Valued at up to $200 Million, White House Says

 This photograph shows a building destroyed by shelling in the town of Toretsk, Donetsk region, on July 29, 2024, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. (AFP)
This photograph shows a building destroyed by shelling in the town of Toretsk, Donetsk region, on July 29, 2024, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. (AFP)
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Ukraine Aid Package Valued at up to $200 Million, White House Says

 This photograph shows a building destroyed by shelling in the town of Toretsk, Donetsk region, on July 29, 2024, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. (AFP)
This photograph shows a building destroyed by shelling in the town of Toretsk, Donetsk region, on July 29, 2024, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. (AFP)

The United States announced a new security assistance package for Ukraine on Monday that is valued at up to $200 million and includes air defenses and anti-tank weapons, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said.

"This includes a presidential drawdown authority package to provide Ukraine with key capabilities for the fight that they're in, including air defense interceptors, munitions for US- provided HIMARS, artillery and mortar rounds, javelin anti-tank missiles and other anti-tank weapons," Kirby told reporters.

He said the Department of Defense also is announcing significant security assistance initiative funds to support Ukraine's defenses over the long term.

"That package includes capabilities to augment Ukraine's air defenses, long range fires and anti-tank weapons, and to sustain equipment previously committed by the United States," Kirby said.

Biden has authorized nine security assistance packages since late April, he said.

Ukrainian officials have been urging their allies for months to supply more air defense systems to counter frequent missile and drone attacks from Russian forces.

The United States has provided Ukraine with more than $50 billion worth of military aid since 2022, but there are concerns about the future of US support for Kyiv should Donald Trump win the Nov. 5 presidential election.

"We are grateful to our American partners for their leadership and staunch support. Together, we will win!" the Ukrainian defense ministry said in an X post welcoming the new package.



Iran, The Gambia Resume Diplomatic Relations

Iran’s acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri and his Gambian counterpart Mamadou Tangara. Photo: Iranian Foreign Ministry
Iran’s acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri and his Gambian counterpart Mamadou Tangara. Photo: Iranian Foreign Ministry
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Iran, The Gambia Resume Diplomatic Relations

Iran’s acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri and his Gambian counterpart Mamadou Tangara. Photo: Iranian Foreign Ministry
Iran’s acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri and his Gambian counterpart Mamadou Tangara. Photo: Iranian Foreign Ministry

Iran said on Monday it has resumed diplomatic ties with The Gambia, according to Tehran’s foreign ministry, almost 14 years after they were severed by Banjul.
“Following the meeting of the high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of The Gambia...both sides decided to announce the resumption of diplomatic relations on July 29, 2024 in order to secure the interests of the two countries,” the ministry said in a statement.
According to Agence France Presse, the statement came after Iran’s acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri met his Gambian counterpart Mamadou Tangara.
The Gambia’s top diplomat was in Tehran to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

The West African country cut ties with Iran in 2010 after the Nigerian government seized what it said was an illegal arms shipment from Iran to The Gambia.
The 13 containers of weapons had been falsely labelled as building materials.
Tehran at the time insisted that the arms shipment, which were sent by a private company, complied with international law.
The Gambia denied it was the intended recipient of the weapons and cut diplomatic ties with Iran.
Tehran then accused the United States of having pressured Banjul into the move.
In early 2011, Nigeria put Azim AgHajjani, an alleged Iranian Revolutionary Guard member and a Nigerian national on trial over the shipment.
In 2013, AgHajjani and his Nigerian accomplice were sentenced to five years in jail each over the arms shipment.
The arms shipment drew international attention over the possible violation of UN sanctions against Iran linked to its nuclear program.