Trump Administration Approves $7.4 Billion Arms Sale to Israel
The deal includes Hellfire missiles, guidance kits, and fuzes, underscoring the U.S. commitment to Israel's security despite political disagreements
U.S. Army photo by Josh Shinn
The Trump administration announced on Friday the approval of a $7.4 billion arms sale to Israel, despite opposition from Democratic members of Congress.
The deal, approved by the State Department, includes Boeing-made guidance kits and fuzes, as well as $660 million in aid for the procurement of HELLFIRE missiles, with Lockheed Martin serving as the primary contractor. Democratic senators sought to delay approval to "obtain more details," but their request was denied, and the administration proceeded with the sale as planned.
According to reports from Reuters and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), Israel requested to purchase 3,000 AGM-114 HELLFIRE air-to-ground missiles, 2,000 GBU-39B Small Diameter Bombs, 2,800 JDAM 5562/B KMU bombs, and 17,475 Emu-A/B fuzes. The deal also includes additional equipment and logistical support.
The State Department’s statement emphasized the U.S. commitment to ensuring Israel’s security and providing it with a strong self-defense capability against various threats along its borders, as well as for military coordination with the U.S. Officials in the Trump administration stated that the sale is intended to strengthen Israel’s ability to address regional security challenges and to maintain ongoing strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The deal has drawn significant attention amid political divisions in the U.S. regarding the administration’s foreign policy on Israel and the Middle East. Nonetheless, the current administration appears committed to its policy of strong support for Israel’s security, even at the cost of opposition from Democratic lawmakers in Congress.
