U.S. approves $20 billion in weapons sales to Israel amid threat of wider Middle East war

U.S. approves  billion in weapons sales to Israel amid threat of wider Middle East war


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to reporters alongside Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) at the U.S. Capitol Building on July 24, 2024 in Washington, DC. 

Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images

The U.S. has approved $20 billion in arms sales to Israel, including scores of fighter jets and advanced air-to-air missiles, the State Department announced Tuesday.

Congress was notified of the impending sale, which includes more than 50 F-15 fighter jets, Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, or AMRAAMs, 120 mm tank ammunition and high explosive mortars and tactical vehicles and comes at a time of intense concern that Israel may become involved in a wider Middle East war.

However, the weapons are not expected to get to Israel anytime soon, they are contracts that will take years to fulfill. Much of what is being sold is to help Israel increase its military capability in the long term.

“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives,” the State Department said in a release on the sale.

The Biden administration has had to balance its continued support for Israel with a growing number of calls from lawmakers and the U.S. public to curb military support there due to the high number of civilian deaths in Gaza. It has curbed one delivery of 2,000-pound weapons amid continued airstrikes by Israel in densely populated civilian areas in Gaza.



Source

Tesla teaser video sparks speculation of long-awaited Roadster or mass market model
World

Tesla teaser video sparks speculation of long-awaited Roadster or mass market model

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, attends the Viva Technology conference at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris on June 16, 2023. Gonzalo Fuentes | Reuters Tesla posted a teaser video on X sparking speculation that the electric carmaker could be gearing up to release a new car. The first video posted […]

Read More
Mongolia to join data center frenzy with Chinggis Khaan sovereign wealth fund
World

Mongolia to join data center frenzy with Chinggis Khaan sovereign wealth fund

A view from the statue of Genghis Khan in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on April 04, 2022. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images Mongolia, long reliant on mining, plans to build data centers powered by renewable energy as it prepares its first sovereign wealth fund aimed at channeling its mineral wealth to social welfare and infrastructure. “We […]

Read More
Indonesia reinstates TikTok’s license after app shares data amid protest fallout
World

Indonesia reinstates TikTok’s license after app shares data amid protest fallout

Indonesia lifted a suspension on TikTok’s local operating license on Saturday after the platform shared data requested by the government. Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty Images Indonesia has reinstated TikTok’s local operating license after it shared data requested by the government that was linked to the nationwide protests between late August and September. […]

Read More