US State Department Appeals to Congress for Approval of Tank Munitions Sales to Israel
US State Department seeks congressional approval to sell large quantities of tank munitions to Israel, according to a CNN source
The US State Department has reached out to Congress to seek approval for the sale of tens of thousands of munitions for Israeli tanks, according to a source familiar with the situation who spoke to CNN. The request, which the source indicated was received in the last week, is currently being assessed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Specifically, the request is for 45,000 shells for Israeli Merkava tanks. The source also mentioned that the committees are feeling the "pressure" from the State Department to expedite the approval process due to Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
The US is facing increasing pressure, both domestically and internationally, to endorse a ceasefire in Gaza and impose restrictions on certain weapons being supplied to Israel. A State Department spokesperson stated, "We have a policy of not confirming or commenting on proposed defense transfers or sales until they have been officially notified to Congress," when questioned about the request.
Reuters was the first to report the request. In early November, congressional leaders were formally notified by the State Department about its plan to transfer $320 million worth of precision-guided bomb equipment to Israel, as reported by CNN earlier.
Israel has received 200 cargo planes carrying military equipment from "several countries" since the Hamas terror attack on October 7. The shipments included ammunition, armored vehicles, and weapons, as reported by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. In total, over 10,000 tons of military equipment have been delivered since the beginning of the war.
A Ministry of Defense spokesperson confirmed that the aid had been received from "multiple countries," but refused to disclose the specific countries involved or the amount provided by the United States. The delivery of military aid from the US commenced shortly after the start of the war, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin personally overseeing a C-17 cargo plane delivering security assistance to Israel during his visit on October 13.
"At the time, Austin mentioned that there is much more to come," he said.
In contrast to the level of detail provided for security assistance to Ukraine, the shipments to Israel have been much more secretive, with the Defense Department seldom confirming or publicizing the types of weapons or equipment being sent.
A senior defense official announced in late-October that the US was fast-tracking the delivery of precision-guided joint direct attack munitions (JDAMs) to Israel, effectively transforming unguided bombs into smart weapons. In addition, the US has also expedited the delivery of Iron Dome interceptor missiles, which serve as Israel's primary aerial defense system. The use of US weapons in Israel's ongoing war has come under increased scrutiny following an Amnesty International report that claimed US-made JDAMs were used in two strikes in October, resulting in the deaths of 43 civilians. Amnesty International concluded that there were no military objectives at the sites, a claim that the Israeli military dismissed as "flawed, biased, and premature."
Both the US State Department and the Defense Department have stated that they are currently reviewing Amnesty International's report. State Department spokesman Matt Miller emphasized the US's deep concern for the protection of civilians in the conflict and stressed the expectation for Israel to target only legitimate targets and adhere to the laws of armed conflict.
CNNs Oren Liebermann contributed reporting.
