The US limits Israel's capabilities

The U.S. decision to suspend shipments to Israel and consider slowing other shipments is a major policy shift for the Biden administration. This is the first time that Israel has refused military aid to a close US ally since the start of its invasion of Gaza.

The head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, announced that the United States has decided to stop the supply of high-yield ammunition to Israel in the background of plans to launch an attack on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. This was announced at the Senate appropriations committee hearing on May 8.

The US Secretary of Defense said that the Joe Biden administration had opposed Israel's operation in Rafah from the beginning because of the lack of attention and protection of civilians in the combat zone.

The ban affected 3,500 bomb kits. In addition, The New York Times (NYT) clarified that Biden is preparing for a broader review of direct deliveries of ammunition and all US military aid to Israel.

The decision to freeze the shipment and consider slowing other shipments is a major policy shift for the Biden administration. This is the first time that Israel has refused military aid to a close US ally since the start of its invasion of Gaza.

Earlier, it was reported that the Biden administration delayed the delivery of an important batch of ammunition to Israel.