Israel Seeks US Weapons to Replenish Stockpiles After Hamas Attack
The American drive to provide fresh military support to Israel took a step ahead tonight, as Biden administration officials informed Congress on the weapons the ally urgently needs from the US.
Israel’s appeal for more armaments came into focus in a briefing for congressional leaders and the chairmen of security-focused committees on the surprise attacks by Hamas, according to two individuals familiar with the meeting.
During the non-classified conversation, officials informed legislators that America’s closest Middle Eastern ally urgently requires precision-guided weapons and additional interceptors for the Iron Dome air defense system.
According to one of those familiar with the dialog, Israel is also pursuing additional small-diameter bombs manufactured in the United States.
The request for emergency military aid will put the House and Senate to the test at a time of extraordinary political instability in Washington, following the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy as House speaker and strained supply chains for arms manufacturers due to the conflict in Ukraine.
In addition to the briefing on Sunday evening, legislators will likely receive a classified briefing this week, according to a second source with knowledge of the contact.
As the assaults from Gaza transpired over the weekend, Democrats and Republicans united in their support of Israel. Following the unprecedented attack, President Joe Biden and legislators from both parties have pledged to provide Israel with the necessary resources as soon as possible.
Although it’s conceivable that some weapons could be delivered swiftly using existing authorities, Congress will likely need to appropriate additional funds at some point. How the leadership turmoil in the House plays out in the coming days will impact these efforts.
Following the briefing, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that the upper chamber “stands ready to deliver on additional needs.”
Schumer said in a statement, “I asked representatives of our Defense Department if they are providing Israel with everything they require, and I was heartened when they said yes and are increasing support.” I asked them if they had denied any of Israel’s requests, and they said no.
Saturday, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), pledged to introduce legislation to replenish the interceptors used by the Iron Dome systems. The Senate is absent this week and will resume the following week.
Biden has not yet requested supplemental funding, though he may do so in the near future, and many legislators indicate that, if necessary, emergency funding should be approved swiftly. According to the first source, Pentagon and State Department officials who briefed legislators said they have all the legal authority necessary to assist Israel at this time, although they did not specify what those legal authorities are.
Those efforts may have already begun. The White House said in a statement following a phone call between Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday that more assistance for Israel’s military “is now on its way to Israel, with more to follow over the coming days.”
The administration has informed lawmakers that it is considering using a portion of the $100 million in presidential drawdown authority to dispatch weaponry from U.S. military stockpiles, according to a second person with knowledge of the call.
Utilizing existing U.S. stockpiles would unquestionably place additional strain on the Pentagon and the defense industry, which are already under pressure to award new contracts and increase production of certain munitions already sent to Ukraine.
The requirements of Israelis and Ukrainians differ in significant ways. Israel will rely largely on air-to-ground precision munitions launched by F-16 and F-35 fighter jets and Apache helicopters, none of which are in the Ukrainian arsenal. However, the issue of 155mm artillery projectiles, on which both nations rely extensively, will likely play a significant role.
Drawdown authority is one of the mechanisms the administration has utilized to dispatch arms to Ukraine, and administration officials have emphasized the necessity of Congress replenishing weapons stockpiles that are in high demand, which would require separate funding.
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