Israel: USA Approves $20 Billion Arms Sale

While the Israeli Air Force continuously strikes Hamas staging points in Gaza, the US State Department has approved the sale of more than $20 billion worth of arms and ammunition to the Jewish state government.

Over the past 24 hours, IDF (Israel Defense Forces) fighter-bombers have hit more than 40 targets in Gaza, striking various infrastructures of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, including buildings used to launch anti-tank missiles, as well as armed militant cells. Israeli forces also struck Hamas positions used to launch rockets at Tel Aviv in recent days. The fighting, the IDF spokesperson explained, continues in Rafah and Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, as well as in the area of the Netzarim corridor, in the central region.

In an increasingly tense and dramatic situation, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced in a series of press releases that the approvals concern the sale to Israel of some modified versions of F-15IA (Israel has requested up to 50) and F-15I+ fighter-bombers, as well as related equipment, at an estimated cost of $18.82 billion. In addition, advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles and related equipment worth $102.5 million will be provided. Also, Israel will soon receive new 120-millimeter tank guns and related equipment worth $774.1 million. Additionally on the list are the M933A1 fragmentation-fused mortar rounds and the M1148A1P2 tactical vehicles.

In a special message to the US Congress, the DSCA agency reminded that the United States “is committed to Israel’s security, which is fundamental to US national interests, and believes that the proposed sales will not alter the military balance in the region or adversely affect US defense readiness.”