The Pentagon has stealthily increased military aid to Israel, including laser-guided missiles for its fleet of Apache gunship fleet, 155mm projectiles, night vision equipment, bunker-busting ammunition and new army vehicles, Bloomberg informs.
The arms shipments to Israel extend beyond Iron Dome interceptors and Boeing Co. smart bombs. The deliveries continue despite Biden officials urging Israel to avoid civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.
The weapons Israel is seeking in the fight against Hamas are listed in a document entitled “Israel Senior Leader” and dated late October.
According to the document, the weapons are already being delivered, or the defence ministry is working to make them available from stockpiles in the US and Europe. As of late October, all 36,000 shells for 30mm guns, 1,800 requested M141 anti-bunker munitions and at least 3,500 night vision devices had been delivered.
This security assistance continues to arrive on a near-daily basis.
The statement said the US promptly supplied precision munitions, bombs and other ammunition along with Iron Dome interceptors and medical support equipment.
The supply of artillery shells and other munitions has drawn criticism from non-governmental organisations, which say the US supplies have allowed Israel to continue bombing. More than 10,000 people have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
On Monday, more than 30 humanitarian organisations wrote to Defence Minister Lloyd Austin urging him not to send the 155mm shells.
“In Gaza, one of the world’s most densely populated places, 155mm artillery shells are inherently indiscriminate. These munitions are unguided and have a high error radius.”
The Israeli military appears to use Apache helicopters “to support Israeli troops in contact with Hamas fighters, using their 30mm chain guns against fighters caught out in the open and Hellfire missiles against vehicles and fighting positions or bunkers used by Hamas.”
They may also be using Hellfires for the targeted killing of senior commanders when the opportunity presents itself.
Israel has also requested more than 57,000 155mm fragmentation artillery rounds and 20,000 M4A1 rifles, up to 5,000 PVS-14 night-vision devices, 3,000 M141 hand-held anti-bunker munitions, 400 120mm mortars, and 75 units of the new Army and Marine Corps Joint Light Tactical Weapons, which will replace the Hummer.
57,000 155mm rounds were shipped from US depots in Israel to the US European Command locations to replenish the stockpiles that were sent to Ukraine. According to a congressional aide and US officials, the resupplied ammunition is now being sent back to Israel for use in the conflict with Hamas.
In addition, Israel asked for 200 Switchblade 600 armour-piercing dive bombers made by AeroVironment Inc. A spokesperson for AeroVironment declined to comment. According to an industry official familiar with the matter, the US could direct Foreign Military Financing grants for purchase through the Foreign Military Sales process
