Biden Administration Approves $680M Arms Deal Following Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Agreement
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – The Biden administration is moving forward with a $680 million arms package to Israel, including thousands of Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits and hundreds of small-diameter bombs, a U.S. official confirmed Wednesday, as reported by the Financial Times.
This follows the implementation of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, ending one of the deadliest cross-border conflicts in years. Meanwhile, Israel continues its war against Hamas in Gaza.
Biden administration officials recently briefed Congress on plans to sell precision weapons, replenishing stockpiles depleted during the 14-month conflict. This comes on top of nearly $20 billion in arms sales approved by Congress last week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu highlighted the need to replenish weapons stockpiles as a key factor in the ceasefire decision. “It is no secret that there have been big delays in weapons and munitions deliveries. These delays will be resolved soon,” Netanyahu said Tuesday night.
Netanyahu assured Israelis that the ceasefire agreement grants Israel “full freedom of military action” to respond to any Hezbollah threats.
The U.S. delayed some weapons shipments during the Gaza War over civilian casualty concerns but denies linking the ceasefire to arms sales.
White House envoy Amos Hochstein told Channel 13 News that no demands were imposed on Israel regarding the deals.
Channel 13 U.S. correspondent Neriah Krauss questioned White House envoy Amos Hochstein, asking, “Prime Minister Netanyahu claimed that one of the reasons Israel is doing the deal is because it needs weapons that were delayed by the U.S. administration. Is it true that Israel had to cave into that deal to get weapons?” Hochstein replied, “I don’t believe the Israeli government caved into any deal. This deal is a good deal for Israel.”
Hochstein emphasized his longstanding relationship with Israel’s leadership, stating, “I have known Prime Minister Netanyahu and the government of Israel for a very long time. I have never known them to cave into deals that they thought threatened the security of Israel.”
He added, “There were no demands by the United States related to weapons or any other sort. There were no threats whatsoever. Those are just rumors and inaccurate ones.”
Earlier today, Worthy News reported that a confidential clause in the U.S.-Israel side agreement to the Lebanon ceasefire dubbed the “Iranian clause” and reportedly centered on Iran, played a crucial role in Israel’s decision to accept the agreement with Lebanon.
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