The US State Department has informally notified Congress of an $8 billion proposed arms sale to Israel according to a report on Friday, weeks before the Biden administration leaves office.
The State Department presented the agreement as a measure to "support Israel's long-term security by resupplying stocks of critical munitions and air defence capabilities," Axios reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.
"The President has made clear Israel has a right to defend its citizens, consistent with international law and international humanitarian law, and to deter aggression from Iran and its proxy organizations. We will continue to provide the capabilities necessary for Israel's defence," a US official was quoted in the report.
The proposed arms sale, pending congressional approval, includes AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles targeted at airborne threats including drones and fighter jets, 155mm artillery shells, small diameter bombs, 500-pound warheads, bomb fuses and other related equipment, the report added.
The sale will reportedly see munitions delivered from current US stocks, while the majority will take one or more years to be produced and delivered.
Israel continues to face accusations from human rights groups of violations of international law, including in its use of US weapons, in its war with Hamas in Gaza, where tens of thousands have been killed. An accusation which it denies.
The US faces criticism for providing military aid to Israel, who according to human rights groups violates international law, including its use of US weapons in its offensive in Gaza.
Biden had earlier halted shipments of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs to Israel in May because of its offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, citing civilian casualties in the enclave as a consequence of the bombs. In July, he decided to move ahead with the shipment of 500-pound bombs to Israel after a two-month pause.
The flow of other military equipment to Israel continued, however, including $20 billion in fighter jets and other military supplies that were approved by the State Department in August.
The US, which provides $3.8 billion in annual security assistance to Israel, is by far the biggest supplier of arms to Tel Aviv, with more than 70% of Israel’s arms imports coming from the US, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
US-made weapons have been documented in several Israeli strikes on Gaza that resulted in civilian casualties, although American authorities have declined to confirm the fact.
A State Department report in May said it is “reasonable to assess” that Israel used US-made weapons in ways that are inconsistent with international humanitarian law. The report stopped short of reaching a definitive conclusion, saying it does not have "complete information."
The FBI has released video footage showing Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the suspect in the deadly New Year's Day attack in New Orleans, recorded with Meta glasses during visits to the French Quarter months before the incident.
President Joe Biden criticized President-elect Donald Trump’s push to eliminate birthright citizenship, calling it "awful," while simultaneously signing a major bill to expand Social Security benefits for public retirees.
Citizens across the United States are concerned about the possibility of further attacks, as they implement measures to enhance national security.
Mike Johnson, a Louisiana lawmaker, has been reelected as Speaker of the US House of Representatives after a closely contested vote. Securing just 218 votes, the minimum needed, Johnson’s victory highlights deep divisions within the Republican Party, set
Jimmy Carter, the former U.S. president and humanitarian, has passed away at his home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 100, the Carter Center announced on Sunday, December 29.
A winter storm brought heavy snow and freezing temperatures to over 60 million people across the US Indiana, Ohio, and the mid-Atlantic are bracing for up to 30 centimeters of snow and icy conditions.
Azerbaijan said on Monday that Armenian forces fired at its military positions in the country's western Lachin region overnight.
Uzbekistan revises entry and transit fees for foreign freight trucks, introducing new rates for EU, Azerbaijan, and others under the 2025 state budget law, effective January 1.
More than 200 Rohingya refugees arrived in Indonesia's Aceh province over the weekend, with authorities confirming two boats landed on January 5 in the West Peureulak area of Sumatra.
The city of Harbin, opened its annual Ice and Snow Festival on Sunday. Visitors enjoy the colorful fireworks, shimmering ice castles, and thrilling super-ice slides.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix returns to Baku from September 19-21, 2025, as the 17th race of the season.
A winter storm brought heavy snow and freezing temperatures to over 60 million people across the US Indiana, Ohio, and the mid-Atlantic are bracing for up to 30 centimeters of snow and icy conditions.
More than 200 Rohingya refugees arrived in Indonesia's Aceh province over the weekend, with authorities confirming two boats landed on January 5 in the West Peureulak area of Sumatra.
A Hamas top official has provided a list of 34 hostages to be released as part of its ceasefire deal with Israel.
Madrid's streets were filled with excitement as the Three Kings Parade returned, drawing thousands of spectators. The event marked the end of the Christmas season, with families and children celebrating the magic of the night.
The FBI has released video footage showing Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the suspect in the deadly New Year's Day attack in New Orleans, recorded with Meta glasses during visits to the French Quarter months before the incident.
A winter storm brought heavy snow and freezing temperatures to over 60 million people across the US Indiana, Ohio, and the mid-Atlantic are bracing for up to 30 centimeters of snow and icy conditions.
Azerbaijan said on Monday that Armenian forces fired at its military positions in the country's western Lachin region overnight.
Uzbekistan revises entry and transit fees for foreign freight trucks, introducing new rates for EU, Azerbaijan, and others under the 2025 state budget law, effective January 1.
More than 200 Rohingya refugees arrived in Indonesia's Aceh province over the weekend, with authorities confirming two boats landed on January 5 in the West Peureulak area of Sumatra.
The city of Harbin, opened its annual Ice and Snow Festival on Sunday. Visitors enjoy the colorful fireworks, shimmering ice castles, and thrilling super-ice slides.
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