The administration of US President Joe Biden intends to sell Israel an arms package worth $8 billion, the Axios portal reported, citing its sources.
According to them, the US State Department has unofficially notified Congress of its intention to conclude a deal with the Jewish state, according to which Israel will receive weapons and ammunition from the US. Washington will transfer to Israel air-to-air missiles for fighter jets and helicopters, artillery shells, small-diameter bombs, additional JDAM ammunition kits, 500-pound bombs (about 227 kg) and other ammunition.
The media sources emphasize that the deal is designed to “provide long-term support for Israel's security“. Some weapons are expected to be transferred to Israel directly from Pentagon warehouses, but the delivery of most of the weapons will take "a year or more".
Axios emphasizes that the possible sale of weapons to Israel must be approved by the foreign affairs committees of the US House of Representatives and Senate.