Israel seeks Iron Dome missiles, U.S. guided weapons after Hamas attack

WASHINGTON — The Israeli government has asked the Pentagon for missile interceptors, precision-guided weapons and artillery rounds following the deadly attacks by Hamas militants, a U.S. official said Monday.

The attacks by Hamas in Israel have been unprecedented in scope and intensity, a senior Defense official said separately late Monday.

"This is ISIS-level savagery," according to the official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity. The Hamas attacks included murdering children in front of their parents, burning occupied houses and mass shooting of civilians at a music festival, the official said.

The Pentagon is working with defense contractors to expedite some of the orders, according to the U.S. official who was not authorized to speak about the issue. Israeli defense forces do not seem to have a shortage of weapons, but attacks on Israel are continuing and an Israeli offensive into Gaza is expected in coming days.

Continued military support for Israel could be combined with aid packages for Ukraine, Taiwan and funding for domestic natural disasters, the official said. The White House has about $100 million remaining in Presidential Drawdown Authority, the fund that has been regularly tapped for the more than $40 billion in military aid for Ukraine.

The anticipated request from the White House for supplemental funding faces uncertainty in Congress, where the House does not have a speaker after Kevin McCarthy was deposed last week.

More immediately, Israel has requested interceptors for the Iron Dome system, which Israel developed in response to rocket attacks from Gaza and southern Lebanon. It is jointly built by U.S. and Israel and has been used successfully more than 2,500 times to knock down short-range missiles fired into Israel.

The system uses artificial intelligence to determine if interceptors and rocket debris could endanger people or buildings and can recommend against firing.

Precision-guided weapons generally use satellite or lasers to guide explosives to the target to minimize harm to civilians and infrastructure. The weapons include missiles, multiple-launched rockets and bombs that can be fired from aircraft, ships or through artillery or rocket launchers.

The guidance systems can steer a weapon to within 10 feet of its target, according to the Congressional Research Service.

The Pentagon also stockpiles ammuniton in Israel for conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, including Ukraine's defense against Russian invaders. Israel, with permission from the United States, can tap that arsenal if needed.

On Sunday, the Pentagon announced the deployment to the eastern Mediterranean of its newest aircraft carrier and its armada of destroyers in response to the attack by Hamas. In addition, squadrons of warplanes in the Middle East will be bolstered to reassure Israel and other U.S. allies and to deter adversaries, especially Iran and Hezbollah, according to U.S officials. Iran has backed militant groups in the region.

The Ford and its associated warships should reach the region very soon, the Defense official said. They have a wide range of capabilities including intelligence collection, maritime dominance and long-range strike. Their presence is pointed warning to Iran, Hezbollah and others not to open a second front in the conflict, the official said.

Those adversaries should "think twice," the official said.

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