U.S. accelerates maintenance of F-35 fighters for Israel
Pentagon to speed up maintenance of F-35 fighter jets for Israel (Photo: GettyImages)
The Pentagon is accelerating maintenance and operational support for Israel's F-35 fighter jet fleet to maintain combat readiness against regional threats, according to Bloomberg.
Israel has spoken little about the role of F-35 fighters in the war against Palestinian militants Hamas but uses them for air strikes in the Gaza Strip during a ground offensive.
"Notably in Israel, we see surging sustainment support in operations that maximizes fleet readiness with 35 of 39 Israeli Air Force F-35A aircraft," said Deputy Secretary of Defense William LaPlante.
Lieutenant General of the US Air Force Michael Schmidt said that the Israeli Air Force achieves exceptional combat effectiveness in the execution of missions, and the aircraft prove their reliability.
"We’re learning a tremendous amount and will apply lessons learned to enhance fleet readiness across the globe," Schmidt said.
U.S. assistance to Israel
The United States has been supporting Jerusalem since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas. In particular, it has sent several of its aircraft carriers and thousands of soldiers to Israel's shores in the Mediterranean Sea to prevent other countries or groups from interfering in the conflict.
The United States also confirmed the shipment of two Iron Dome systems to Israel, which the country needs to protect itself from Hamas rocket attacks.
On December 9, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as it believed it would only benefit Palestinian militants Hamas.
Recently, the administration of US President Joe Biden used emergency powers to authorize the sale of about 14,000 tank shells to Israel without congressional approval.
