Washington approves $20 billion in arms sales to Israel

The US State Department announced that the United States has approved $20 billion in arms sales to Israel, including dozens of fighter jets and advanced air-to-air missiles. Congress has been notified of the impending deal, which includes more than 50 F-15 fighter jets, advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, or AMRAAMs, 120mm tank ammunition, high-explosive mortar shells and tactical vehicles. This comes at a time when there are serious concerns about the possibility of Israel becoming involved in a wider war in the Middle East. However, the weapons are not expected to reach Israel anytime soon, as they are contracts that will take years to implement, and in fact, a large part of the weapons being sold are aimed at helping Israel increase its military capabilities in the long term. In a statement issued by the US State Department regarding the deal, it said that 'the United States is committed to Israel's security, and it is vital to US national interests to help Israel develop and maintain a strong a nd ready self-defense capability,' noting that 'this proposed sale is consistent with these goals.' The contracts will not only include the sale of 50 new aircraft to be produced by Boeing, but will also include upgrade aircraft for Israel to modify its current fleet of twenty F-15 fighter jets with new engines and radars, among other upgrades. The aircraft constitute the largest part of the $20 billion sale, and the first aircraft are expected to be delivered in 2029. With US support, Israel has been waging a war on Gaza since October 7, 2023, which has resulted in more than 132,000 deaths and injuries, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and a deadly famine. Tel Aviv continues the war, ignoring the UN Security Council resolution to stop it immediately, and the International Court of Justice's orders to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and to improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. Source: National Iraqi News Agency