The new report reveals that the United States has granted a record of $17.9 billion for military aid to Israel since the beginning of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023. This financial support comes in the backdrop of increasing bloodshed in the region, and militants from Iran-backed Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis.
An extra $4.86 billion has also been committed to deepening operations in the Middle East to shield Americans and Israelis from attack. Such operations include actions against missile threats of the Houthis against commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which is being done in support of Hamas.
The report continues to state that the U.S has provided Israel with numerous types of weapon systems such as munitions, precision guided bomb and missile defense systems. Of these, $4bn have been utilized to restock Israel’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling missile defense systems. Other expenses include rifles, and other requirements such as jet fuel, among others.
The increase in military aid represents the largest single-year increase in aid for Israel to date. Since 1959, Israel has been the largest US aid receiver, specifically getting $251.2 billion in today’s dollars. That is, the US has already pledged $3.8 billion a year to Israel through 2028, but the current conflict raised this year’s aid to unprecedented heights.
American participation has also risen since the start of the conflict in the region. This force increased from 34,000 to about 50,000, with aircraft carriers, and strike groups and fighter squadrons being dispatched to threatened areas to prevent attacks. The U.S. is also actively involved in military operations to protect oil tankers from Houthi drones that have become an unexpectedly expensive affair for the American navy.
Amid the increasing discussions about the economic and human costs of such support, President Biden has redoubled his administration’s support for Israel, claiming, “No administration has done more for Israel than I have.”
