The US is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade and build new military bases for Israel. The total cost of the facilities could exceed $1 billion.
“The US military aid construction program for Israel includes ongoing projects valued at more than $250 million, with future projects expected to exceed $1 billion,” Haaretz reported on Monday, citing documents published by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The new bases will accommodate refueling aircraft and helicopters.
The USACE will also build a new headquarters for an Israeli naval commando unit.
Washington provides Tel Aviv with a massive amount of military assistance, sending some $3.8 billion in security aid every year. Since Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Washington has provided Tel Aviv with an additional $18 billion in assistance.
The US military has also spent billions on operations to benefit Israel, including a war against Ansar Allah in Yemen – commonly known as the Houthis – in an attempt to break their blockade on Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea. Washington has also blown billions on interceptors to shoot down Iranian missiles targeting Israel.
The military support has given Tel Aviv a blank check to commit genocide, multiple invasions, and provoking aggressive wars. Washington’s weapons, diplomatic support at the UN, and direct assistance shooting down Iranian missiles have insulated Israel from almost all consequences of its attacks on Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran.