US to provide Israel with $3.5 billion for purchase of American weapons - CNN
The US will allocate $3.5 billion in funding to Israel for the purchase of weapons (photo: Getty Images)
Washington plans to provide Israel with $3.5 billion for the purchase of US weapons and military equipment. The funds will be released a few months after being allocated by Congress, reports CNN.
US officials told CNN that the financial aid for weapons procurement comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran.
One source informed CNN that the US State Department recently notified legislators that President Joe Biden's administration plans to allocate billions of dollars in foreign military funding to Israel.
This funding is part of the $14.1 billion supplemental aid package for Israel approved by Congress in April, according to sources who spoke to the CNN.
Specifics of the funding
It is noted that Israel will not receive the $3.5 billion in US weapons immediately. Instead, the funding is intended for the purchase of systems currently under construction, with delivery potentially taking several years.
CNN reports that additional funding also includes billions of dollars' worth of equipment that the Pentagon may draw from its stockpiles and send directly to Israel much more quickly.
Thus, Israel can use this funding to acquire advanced weaponry and other equipment from the US through the foreign military financing program.
According to CNN sources, the release of funds from these packages is not considered unusual.
Particularity of the moment
This funding was allocated by the US this week amid rising tensions in the Middle East and Israel's preparations for a potential attack from Iran or Hezbollah militants following the elimination of high-ranking Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in Tehran and Beirut earlier in August.
Additionally, Washington has been emphasizing peace efforts in the region in recent weeks amidst the threat of strikes on Israel.
On August 8, it was reported that the US had deployed F-22 Raptor fighter jets to the Middle East to bolster Israel's defense and prevent possible regional escalation from Iran.
Notably, last week Axios reported that President Joe Biden had warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the possibility of halting US aid if there was a renewed escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
