Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked US President Donald Trump for releasing US munitions that had previously been withheld by the prior administration, aimed at supporting Israel’s efforts to combat Iran’s growing influence, including its nuclear ambitions and proxy groups.
In a video statement, Netanyahu hailed Trump as “the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House,” highlighting the president’s commitment to ensuring Israel had the necessary tools to confront Iran’s "terror axis."
This axis includes groups aligned against Israel and the US, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
"He's shown it by sending us all the munitions that were being held up. This way he is giving Israel the tools we need to finish the job against Iran's terror axis," Netanyahu stated.
Netanyahu’s remarks echoed previous comments made during a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in February, where he reiterated that Israel would rely on US support to defeat Iran’s influence and proxies.
The Israeli leader also stated that Israel had dealt a “mighty blow” to Iran’s network since the war with Hamas began in Gaza in October 2023.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has reinstated his "maximum pressure" policy towards Iran, echoing his stance from his first term in office. His administration has also reversed a partial arms embargo imposed under former President Joe Biden, accelerating military aid to Israel.
In a related statement, Rubio confirmed that he had signed a declaration to expedite approximately $4 billion in military assistance to Israel, further reinforcing the US's unwavering support for the Jewish state.
Yesterday, the Trump administration approved a major arms sale to Israel worth nearly $3 billion, bypassing the usual Congressional review process.
The US State Department notified Congress on Friday that it had authorised the sale of more than 35,500 MK 84 and BLU-117 bombs, as well as 4,000 Predator warheads, valued at $2.04 billion.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the decision, citing an emergency national security situation that required immediate action. The justification allowed the sale to proceed without Congressional oversight. Deliveries for these munitions are scheduled to begin next year.
In addition to the large bomb sale, the department also approved a separate arms deal worth $675.7 million, which includes further munitions for Israel, with deliveries set to start in 2028. Furthermore, the US State Department authorised the emergency sale of D9R and D9T Caterpillar bulldozers worth $295 million to Israel.
Last month, Biden administration also formally notified Congress of an $8 billion proposed arms sale to Israel, which includes munitions for fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery shells.
The deal, aimed at supporting Israel’s long-term security, will be one of the last significant arms sales to the country under Biden’s presidency, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The proposed arms package includes AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles designed to defend Israel against airborne threats, including drones, and 155mm artillery shells.
Additionally, the deal covers Hellfire AGM-114 missiles for attack helicopters, small diameter bombs, JDAM tail kits for precision munitions, 500-lb warheads, and bomb fuzes.
The sale will likely take several years to fully deliver, with some munitions available from existing US stocks, while others will require new production. Congress will have to approve the sale through both the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees.
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