Israel receives 1,000th US military aid aircraft since Oct 8

TEL AVIV, Israel (MNTV) — Israel’s Ministry of Defense (IMOD) announced that it has received the 1,000th aircraft carrying US military supplies since the October 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israel and the start of its operations in Gaza.

According to the IMOD, the airlift has delivered over 120,000 tons of military equipment, munitions, weapons systems, and protective gear via 1,000 aircraft and roughly 150 maritime vessels, marking a logistics operation unprecedented in scale since Israel’s founding.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) noted that missions in the US and Berlin have contributed to the airlift, indicating that some equipment may include German-supplied arms. 

Germany is Israel’s second-largest weapons supplier and recently lifted a partial suspension on arms exports.

Equipment received through the operation has included advanced munitions, armored vehicles, medical supplies, communications systems, and personal protective gear. 

The IMOD emphasized that these deliveries have supported Israel’s wars in Gaza, Lebanon, southwestern Syria, Yemen, Iran, and the occupied West Bank.

On Thursday, Israel signed a multi-billion dollar contract with Rafael to expand its Iron Dome systems, funded through US aid. 

The IMOD highlighted that the $8.7 billion US aid package approved in April 2024 allocates $5.2 billion specifically for air defense enhancements, including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and a high-powered laser defense system in its final development phase.

Research from Brown University’s Costs of War Project estimates that in the two years following October 7, the US spent at least $21.7 billion on military support for Israel, with an additional $9.65–$12.07 billion on related regional operations in Yemen, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Qatar.