US Defense Department approves replenishment of Israel's Iron Dome system

JUNE 20, 2021 12:42

Updated: JUNE 20, 2021 12:43

DF SOLDIERS near The Iron Dome anti-missile system near Ashkelon, 2011. (photo credit: EDI ISRAEL/FLASH90) — DF SOLDIERS near The Iron Dome anti-missile system near Ashkelon, 2011.

(photo credit: EDI ISRAEL/FLASH90)

The Secretary of Defense announced during a Thursday congressional session that the request for military assistance has been approved and the US will transfer the requested amount over to Israel.

The United States has pledged to replenish and reinforce Israel's Iron Dome system following the most recent escalation between Israel and allied terror groups in the Gaza Strip, which culminated with over 4,300 rockets being shot into Israeli territory.

Israel requested $1 billion from the United States to replenish the IDF’s inventory in early June, following the IDF's Operation Guardian of the Walls, when Defense Minister Benny Gantz met with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to address reinforcing the Iron Dome system and Israel’s security and stability in the Middle East in a strategic dialogue.

Austin confirmed during a Thursday congressional session, addressing the Senate Appropriations Committee, that the request for military assistance has been approved by the Department of Defense for its 2022 budget and the US will look to transfer the total requested amount over to Israel following approval from Congress.

Austin said that the administration is working on clarifying the details and that politicians should expect a special budget request within the coming days.

US Army General and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley also confirmed at the same Senate hearing that the Biden administration will call on Congress to approve the budget to replenish the Iron Dome system.

President Joe Biden promised to replenish Israel's supply of Iron Dome interceptors and to help rebuild the Gaza Strip in a brief address he delivered at the White House shortly after the announcement that a ceasefire had been reached to end the 11 days of Israel-Gaza conflict.

During the address, the president explained that during the conflict, he held six conversations with former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu about steps to be performed after the ceasefire.

The two spoke of the Iron Dome system, which had saved the lives of countless Israelis, both Arabs and Jews, Biden explained. Israel has said that the system had a 90% success rate amid the rocket barrages.

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"I assured him of my full support to replenish Israel's Iron Dome system to ensure its defenses and security in the future," the president said.

Biden emphasized that "the US fully supports Israel's right to protect itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks from Hamas and other Gaza terror groups that have taken the lives of innocent civilians in Israel."

Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report.