The Defense Department is sending Israel the Iron Dome air defense system to help fend off daily missile attacks launched by Hamas terrorists operating inside the Gaza Strip, Pentagon officials said.
The weapons transfer comes as the U.S. continues to send munitions to Israel following the Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 that resulted in the killing of more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and hundreds of others taken hostage.
Rep. Brian Mast, Florida Republican, joined a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers to urge the Pentagon to send Israel the two Iron Dome batteries it has. In an Oct. 16 letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Mr. Mast noted that the Israel-built Iron Dome was bought by the Pentagon in accordance with the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act but is “currently sitting idle.”
“These systems, defensive in nature, will protect innocent women, children and the elderly as Israel defends itself against Hamas’ terrorist attacks that are being supported by Hezbollah,” according to the letter signed by Mr. Mast and nearly two dozen other Republican and Democratic members of Congress.
Despite a relentless air attack from Israel, Hamas has continued to fire thousands of rockets from its Gaza enclave.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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