Pentagon Urgently “Surges” Air Defenses & Munitions to Support Israel … Patriot? Iron Dome?

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

The Pentagon is immediately “surging” weapons, air-defenses and munitions to Israel in support of the country’s rapid military response to Hamas’ sudden terrorist attack against Israeli civilians, women and children, a coordinated massacre killing at least 900 and injuring thousands more.

“We are surging support to Israel. That includes air defense and munitions. We remain in constant, ongoing contact with our counterparts in Israel to determine and then support their most urgent requirements,” a Senior Pentagon official told reporters, according to a DoD published transcript.

Details regarding which weapons and munitions are being immediately fast-tracked are not available for security reasons, yet the Pentagon is clear that “planes have already taken off” bringing urgently needed military support to Israel.

“We back Israel and its right to respond, to ensure that its own citizens and its territory are safe from Hamas terror and recognize that there’s going to need to be a response for Israel to restore deterrence,” the senior official said.

Israel is of course known to have a capable military to include its Merkava main battle tank, unique F-35A dir variant, Iron Dome air defense system and a full arsenal of drones, yet the scale of Hamas’ rocket attacks do seem to underscore the importance of getting Israel more air defenses.

Part of the effort includes accelerating delivery of weapons and supplies which may have otherwise been seen as routine to address the pressing and urgent nature of Israel’s current military needs. The surge support to Israel, senior Pentagon officials explain, also includes an extensive examination of US weapons and assets which may already be in the Central Command area of responsibility or available across other parts of the DoD enterprise.

Israel and the United States are of course familiar with Hamas and its history of terrorist tactics, yet Pentagon leaders are calling this recent Hamas attack, which targeted children and Israeli citizens at a dance party … unprecedented.