US providing covert military aid to Israel – Bloomberg

According to the media site, Washington is supplying 155mm artillery ammunition and missiles for Apache helicopters.

According to Bloomberg, the US Department of Defence increased arms shipments to Israel without notifying the public of the change. The media site asserted that despite objections from numerous relief organisations, artillery shell deliveries—which are purportedly a top priority for Israel—remain unabated.

The US has been a significant arms supplier and Israel’s closest ally for many years. Washington promptly stepped in to save Israel when Hamas launched an unexpected attack on the nation on October 7, supplying it with Iron Dome air defence systems and smart bombs.

Bloomberg on Wednesday revealed that the Pentagon had been raiding its stocks both domestically and abroad to provide Israel with about 2,000 Hellfire Laser Guided missiles for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and 36,000 rounds of 30mm cannon ammunition. The report cited an internal Defence Department list dated late October. Among other things, the list contained 57,000 155mm High Explosive artillery ammunition, mortars, rifles, and night vision equipment. Additionally, according to reports, Israel asked for 200 armor-piercing Switchblade 600 strike drones, which are not currently in stock with the US military.

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To guarantee Israel has the resources to defend itself, the Defence Department is “leveraging several avenues — from internal stocks to US industry channels,” according to a statement released in response to a request for comment. “This security assistance continues to arrive on a near-daily basis,” officials continued.

The Biden administration has officially urged Israel to use caution and prevent civilian casualties during its continuing assault against Hamas in Gaza, but the reported supplies seem to have persisted.

Thirty humanitarian organisations wrote Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday, pleading with him to stop receiving 155mm munitions in particular. They claimed that because Gaza is “one of the densestly populated areas on Earth,” 155mm artillery projectiles are by nature indiscriminate.

In order to avert an impending government shutdown this Friday, Speaker Mike Johnson put out a plan, which the US House of Representatives approved on Tuesday.

The interim bill, which seeks to fund US government departments through mid-January and early-February, noticeably omits aid for Israel and Ukraine.

Originally, the Biden administration requested last month that Congress approve a hefty $106 billion aid package for Israel and the Ukraine. But Republicans rejected the idea, creating a political impasse.