US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has approved the possible sale to Israel of fighter jets and other military equipment worth more than $20 billion, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the Pentagon.
More specifically, the Pentagon specifies that several F-15 aircraft and military equipment worth nearly 19 billion dollars will be sold; tank shells worth about $774 million and military vehicles worth $583 million.
The shells for the tanks will be delivered almost immediately. As for Boeing Co's F-15 fighter jets, production and delivery will take years.
Washington strongly supports Israel in the war in the Gaza Strip, as it is its main ally in the Middle East. The war began after the attack by the group "Hamas" against Israel on October 7 in southern Israel.
While approving arms to Israel, Washington is also trying to broker a Gaza ceasefire that would potentially avert a wider war in the Middle East.
Fears of a wider war have increased since the recent killings of the leader of "Hamas" Ismail Haniya in Iran and the military commander of "Hezbollah" Fouad Shukr in Beirut.
And "Hamas" and "Hezbollah" threatened to retaliate against Israel.