Biden, new weapons to Israel: missiles, ammunition and fighter jets in new supply deal

The Biden administration has notified Congress of a deal to sell arms to Israel, including ammunition, missiles, and helicopters, in response to defence needs and amid rising tensions with Iran

The Biden administration officially notified Congress of a deal involving the sale of arms to Israel worth $8 billion (about 7.8 billion euro). The package includes ammunition for fighter jets and helicopter gunships, as well as Aim 120C-8 Amraam air-to-air missiles, 155 millimetre artillery shells, Agm-114 Hellfire missiles, and small-diameter bombs. Other equipment includes JDAM kits, to transform conventional bombs into precision ordnance, and 500lb (226kg) warheads.

The notification came just weeks before the handover to the new Trump administration, fuelling further controversy between Israel and the US. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accused Biden of imposing a ‘tacit arms embargo’ on Israel after US criticism of operations in Gaza.

A source close to the US government stressed that the package was part of Washington’s commitment to support Israel in its right to defend itself, with a particular focus on defence against Iranian threats and allied armed groups. ‘The president reaffirmed Israel’s right to protect its citizens, consistent with international and humanitarian law,’ the source explained, confirming continued support for Israel’s security.

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