TEL AVIV: Having depleted much of its stockpiles in the Gaza strikes, Israel is asking the U.S for an emergency $1 billion grant to replenish its stock of the Iron Dome rocket interceptor and some “special air launched weapon systems”, mainly JDAMS.
The Israeli air force used a large number of JDAMS in the part of the operation designed to destroy Hamas’ so-called “Metro City” — a large network of tunnels in Gaza.
Israeli sources told BD that a special grant of $200 million has already been approved by the U.S. and the additional funds will be discussed during Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s flying visit to Washington. “The meeting between the two defense ministers will deal mainly by increasing and upgrading the Israeli arsenal of air launched weapon systems,” an Israeli defense source said today. Gantz is expected in Washington tomorrow for a one day visit.
Iron Dome fires CREDIT: IDF
He will brief his American counterpart Lloyd Austin on the heavy use of Iron Dome’s Tamir interceptor in the recent clash with Hamas. He will also present Israel’s latest data that Israel says proves Teheran is cheating the U.S in negotiations about a new nuclear treaty.
Gantz will also tell Austin that Israel’s northern border is “heating up” and the need for more Iron Dome interceptors and “heavy bombs” will become crucial.
The firing of as many as 140 rockets in a salvo at Tel Aviv in the span of a few minutes has “challenged our exceptional systems,” Ofir Akunis, an Israeli cabinet minister and ex-spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told Army Radio. Without going into details, Israel is now discussing whether it needs more Iron Dome systems.
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