Blinken approves arms sales to Israel for $20 billion

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has approved about $20 billion in potential arms sales to Israel, the State Department announced Tuesday.

Proposed sale includes up to 50 F-15s fighter jets as well as 30 advanced medium-range air-to-air aircraft missiles120mm tank cartridgeshighly explosive mortar cartridges and tactical midfielder vehiclesaccording to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The agency notified Congress of the potential sales on Tuesday.

Potential sales also include modification kits for Israel’s existing fleet of 25 F-15 fighters. Sales of new fighters and related equipment represent $18.82 billion of proposed sales to Israel.

“The United States is committed to Israel’s security, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to help Israel develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with these objectives,” the press release states.

“The proposed sale will improve Israel’s ability to confront current and future enemy threats, strengthen the defense of its homeland and serve as a deterrent to regional threats. Israel will have no difficulty in absorbing these items and services into its armed forces,” the statement continues.

The press release states that the proposed sales “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.” The Associated Press noted that these weapons will not reach Israel anytime soon, adding that the contracts will likely take years to fulfill.

The proposed sales come as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise amid Israel’s war against the militant group Hamas in Gaza. The US and its partners are trying to limit escalation in the region after Iran blamed Israel for the apparent assassination of Hamas’s top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran on July 31.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story