U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Tuesday approved the possible sale of fighter jets and other military vehicles and equipment totaling more than $20 billion to Israel. This was reported by the Pentagon.
The U.S. Defense Department said in a statement that the planes themselves and their component parts cost about 19 billion. Tank shells worth 774 million dollars and army vehicles worth 583 million dollars were also approved. The tank shells will be ready for use as soon as they are delivered to the buyer.
The U.S. has strongly backed Israel as its main ally in the Middle East wages a war in the Gaza Strip that has devastated the Palestinian enclave. The war was triggered by an Oct. 7 attack by militant group Hamas in southern Israel, Reuters wrote.
While approving arms shipments to Israel, Washington has also tried to negotiate a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. This would potentially prevent a wider war in the Middle East.
