Israel asks US to add interceptor missiles to defense system
(Baonghean.vn) - The fighting between Hamas gunmen and Israeli forces has so far left nearly 1,000 people dead and thousands injured or missing. In this context, the US affirms Washington's commitment to Israel's security and will support the country in every way possible.
Ria Novosti quoted the Washington Post as saying that the Israeli government has asked the US to supplement its stock of interceptor missiles for the Iron Dome missile defense system and other ammunition.
“Israeli officials have made several specific requests to Washington, including additional Iron Dome interceptor missiles, small diameter bombs, machine gun rounds, and increased cooperation in sharing intelligence related to military operations,” the Washington Post quoted sources as saying.
US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on October 8. The two discussed the situation following Hamas attacks on Israel, and President Joe Biden said the US is deploying additional aid to the Israeli defense forces.
President Joe Biden also provided an update on the US diplomatic contacts in support of Israel over the past 24 hours. According to the US leader, additional aid is being delivered to the Israel Defense Forces and will be increased in the coming days. The two sides also pledged to maintain regular communication.
Also on October 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, affirming his support for Tel Aviv after the Hamas attack.
“I spoke with Mr. Netanyahu to confirm Ukraine’s solidarity with Israel, which has just suffered a shameless, large-scale attack, and to express my condolences to the victims,” President Zelensky wrote on social media on October 8.
On October 7, the Palestinian Hamas force launched thousands of rockets and conducted raids by land, air, and sea into Israel. The attack killed at least 300 people and injured more than 1,500. Hamas stressed that the campaign stemmed from Israel's escalating attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and in Israeli prisons. Hamas declared that there would be "no stopping the attack".
One day later, on October 8, the Israeli government declared a state of war, approved the decision to "destroy Hamas", and ordered the air force to deploy dozens of fighter jets to attack targets in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli retaliatory airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have killed more than 230 people and injured 1,700, the Palestinian Health Authority said.
Currently, the conflict between Israel and Hamas has created a humanitarian disaster, affecting tens of thousands of innocent civilians, many of whom have become homeless.
