Israel bolsters arsenal with US bombs amid Gaza conflict
Israel has received a shipment of American heavy aerial bombs. This delivery was approved by the Trump administration, as reported by the "Times of Israel" portal, which cited the Israeli Ministry of Defence.
A ship carrying American MK-84 bombs was unloaded at the port of Ashdod, Israel. The cargo, authorised by the Trump administration, was then transported to air bases.
Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, highlighted that the delivery of munitions is a significant asset for the Israeli Air Force and Defence Forces. According to the "Times of Israel", the transport had previously been delayed by the Biden administration due to concerns about the safety of civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Conflict in the Gaza Strip: Israel receives a delivery of American bombs
According to the ministry, since October 2023, at the onset of the Gaza Strip conflict, over 85,000 tonnes of military equipment have been delivered to Israel. The majority of these deliveries have come from the United States.
These shipments included 678 aircraft and 129 ships. Minister Katz stressed that this support, along with the latest delivery of MK-84 bombs, serves as further evidence of the strong alliance between Israel and the United States.
For many years, Israel has been the largest recipient of American military aid. Even before the conflict in the Gaza Strip, this aid totalled 3.8 billion dollars (3 billion pounds) annually. During the first year of the conflict, the United States allocated 17.9 billion USD (14.2 billion GBP) to Israel.
U.S. support for Israel was declared at the beginning of Donald Trump's renewed presidency by the new Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Following Trump's inauguration, he had a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Rubio pledged to continue efforts for the release of all hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
