Photo: report.az
The United States plays a critical role in funding Israel’s military operations, especially after the recent Hamas attack on 7 October. The latest report from the Watson Institute’s Cost of War project reveals startling figures that show an increase in military aid to Israel, TimeUkraineIsrael reports, citing Israelinfo.
Largest military aid package since 1959
According to the report, in 2023, Israel received the largest military aid package from the United States in the last 64 years, amounting to $17.9 billion. This is a significant increase compared to traditional aid, which has been approximately $3.5-4.5 billion a year over the past 40 years. This support confirms the strategic partnership between Washington and Tel Aviv.
Conservative estimates of total costs
However, this amount of military aid is only a fraction of the total costs associated with the latest conflict in the Middle East. The authors of the report consider this estimate to be “conservative”, emphasising that the total cost of Israel’s military operations is growing. In 2023, these costs reached $22.76 billion, of which $4.86 billion was allocated to strengthen the US military presence in the region after 7 October.
The importance of American support
Expenditures to strengthen the US military presence in the region include operations against the Houthis in the Red Sea, which cost $2.1 billion, and the deployment of aircraft carriers in the Eastern Mediterranean. These steps demonstrate the United States’ readiness to support Israel at a critical time.
Expenditure on Operation Iron Swords
Israel’s direct military assistance is approximately NIS 85 billion. According to the Bank of Israel, the cost of Operation Iron Swords exceeded NIS 118 billion. This confirms that about 70% of the financing of military operations in Israel is provided by American resources.
This information not only illustrates the scale of US military assistance, but also underscores its strategic importance to Israel in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The partnership between the United States and Israel remains an important element of stability in the region, and U.S. support is critical to Israel’s security and defence.
