The Biden administration has confirmed the approval of a $680 million arms sale to Israel, which includes thousands of joint direct attack munition (JDAM) kits. Despite media reports linking the deal to Israel’s recent ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, U.S. officials have denied any connection, stating that the sale had been planned for several months and is part of routine arms shipments to Israel.
The sale, reported by the Financial Times, involves munitions intended to enhance Israel’s defense capabilities. According to U.S. officials, the deal was not influenced by the ceasefire deal brokered by the U.S. and France and had been progressing long before the Lebanon ceasefire. Deliveries of the munitions are expected to start in about a year.
The U.S. State Department reaffirmed its unwavering support for Israel’s security but emphasized that all arms transfers comply with U.S. law, which prohibits their use in war crimes or obstructing humanitarian aid. They also stressed that Israel has a moral obligation to protect civilians and investigate any potential violations of international law.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously suggested delays in weapon shipments from the U.S., but the Biden administration has rejected these claims. Officials explained that only one shipment of 2,000-pound bombs had been withheld due to concerns about their potential use in populated areas. Additionally, Netanyahu’s aides implied that weapon shipments would resume once former President Donald Trump returned to office, but the U.S. dismissed such suggestions as unfounded.
U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein, who facilitated the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, also denied reports that the U.S. had threatened to bring a UN Security Council resolution to enforce a ceasefire if Israel had not agreed to the terms.