Posted on 10/08/23
| News Source: CNN
Israel is requesting precision-guided bombs and additional interceptors for the Iron Dome from the US, according to an Israeli military official and a US defense official. The request comes as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has promised the US will move security assistance to Israel as soon as today.
The Israeli official said the request to the Americans includes Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs, a kit that turns an unguided “dumb” bomb into a precision “smart” weapon. Israel has used precision-guided bombs to strike targets in Gaza from the air.
Israel is also requesting more interceptors for Iron Dome, a short-range aerial defense system that has intercepted many of the rockets fired from Gaza. But the system has been overwhelmed by barrages of rockets, allowing some rockets to get through and hit Israel.
The US has provided millions of dollars in funding for Iron Dome.
The Israeli official also said the Israeli military could request more capabilities and weapons, depending on how Israel’s campaign against Hamas plays out.
“As and if other events evolve, then we will need other parts as well,” the official said.