The Biden administration has suspended shipments of two types of precision munitions to Israel in response to U.S. objections to Israeli military operations in Rafah, U.S. officials said.
Shipments of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs that the regime says could be used in Rafah are pending.
“The U.S. position is that Israel should not launch a large-scale ground operation in Rafah, where more than 1 million people are displaced with nowhere else to go,” a U.S. official told Fox News Digital. said in a statement.
“We have a dialogue with Israel in the form of a strategic consultative group on how to respond to the humanitarian needs of civilians in Rafah and how to act against Hamas differently than in other areas of Gaza. I have been there,” the official continued. “Those discussions are ongoing and have not adequately addressed our concerns. We are concerned about the possibility of being used in Rafah, as Israeli leaders appear to be nearing a decision point on such operations.” “We began to carefully consider the transfer of certain types of weapons to Israel. This began in April.” ”
Biden administration suspends ammunition shipments to Israel: Report
The Biden administration has suspended shipments of two types of precision bombs to Israel. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
As a result of this review, the United States decided last week to suspend shipments of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, officials said, adding that the administration is placing “particular focus on the final use of 2,000-pound bombs.” I’m guessing,” he said. bombs and “the effects they can have on dense urban environments, such as those seen in other parts of Gaza.”
A final decision has not yet been made on how this shipment will proceed.
“We continue to review certain other State Department cases involving Joint Direct Attack Weapon (JDAM) kits,” the official said. None of these cases involve an imminent transfer, but rather a future transfer. ”
The official also stressed that these shipments have nothing to do with additional Israeli spending passed last month.
White House expresses commitment to Israel ‘ironclad’ despite reports of slow military aid
The Israeli military announced that its troops had gained operational control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing. (IDF)
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“Everything was drawn from funds that were allocated years ago,” the official said. “We are committed to ensuring that Israel receives every dollar appropriated for the additional budget. In fact, we just recently announced that the latest portion of foreign military financing, $827 million to Israel We have just approved a significant amount of weapons and equipment.”
The U.S. official’s statement comes after two Israeli officials told Axios that supplies of U.S. ammunition to Israel were suspended last week for the first time since Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on the Jewish state. Announced.
On Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces on the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing after its forces launched a “precision counterterrorism operation” aimed at killing Hamas terrorists in eastern Rafah and dismantling Hamas terrorist infrastructure within specific areas of the east. announced that it had gained operational control. Mr. Rafa. ”
FOX News’ Liz Frieden contributed to this report.
