Despite Escalation, Israel Secures $8.7BN Military Aid Package From Washington
Israel said on Thursday it had secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the US government to support its ongoing military assaults on Lebanon and Gaza and to maintain a "qualitative military edge in the region," Reuters reported.
The package includes $3.5 billion for critical military purchases and $5.2 billion for air defense systems, including the Iron Dome anti-missile system, David's Sling, and an advanced laser system.
US support for Israel's missile defense systems is crucial to shielding Israeli military installations and infrastructure.
While Israeli warplanes have devastated south and east Lebanon with airstrikes since Monday, killing over 600 Lebanese and Syrians, Hezbollah has hit numerous targets in the vicinity of the city of the Israeli city of Haifa, as well as an Israeli intelligence base on the outskirts of Tel Aviv in central Israel.
Israel also needs US munitions and financial support to continue its horrific bombing campaign of Gaza, which is nearing its twelfth month and has reportedly killed over 40,000 people and destroyed large swathes of the crowded strip.
The aid announcement came after a meeting at the Pentagon between Eyal Zamir, the director general of Israel's defense ministry, and US defense officials, including acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory.
"This substantial investment will significantly strengthen critical systems such as Iron Dome and David's Sling while supporting the continued development of an advanced high-powered laser defense system currently in its later stages of development," Israel's Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The deal illustrates the "strong and enduring strategic partnership between Israel and the United States and the ironclad commitment to Israel's security," the statement added.
Reuters reported in late June that Tel Aviv's allies in Washington had sent more than 10,000 highly destructive 2,000-pound bombs and thousands of Hellfire missiles since the start of the war in Gaza last October.
Addressing the United Nations Netanyahu talked about a broad Abrahamic alliance with Saudi Arabia and others.
— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) September 27, 2024
The camera then panned to the Saudi delegation. Except the Saudi delegation wasn't there. They had walked out when Netanyahu started speaking. pic.twitter.com/zjDDvetTc9
The news agency added that Washington had transferred at least 14,000 of the MK-84 2,000-pound bombs, 6,500 500-pound bombs, 3,000 Hellfire precision-guided air-to-ground missiles, 1,000 bunker-buster bombs, 2,600 air-dropped small-diameter bombs, and other munitions.
Since October of last year, news channels and social media sites have shown a steady stream of videos and images of Palestinian men, women, and children who have been torn apart by US bombs.