Israeli War Machine Reinforced as US Delivers More F-35 Jets
Washington expands direct wartime backing, reinforcing Israeli air supremacy amid ongoing war and regional escalation
Palestine | PUREWILAYAH.COM - The United States has delivered three additional F-35I “Adir” fighter jets to the Israeli occupation army, underscoring Washington’s sustained military backing for Israel as it continues its war on Gaza and escalates regional militarization.
The Israeli Air Force received the aircraft on Sunday, marking another step in a long-term arms program aimed at completing two full F-35 squadrons and entrenching Israeli air dominance across West Asia.
With this latest delivery, the total number of F-35 fighter jets supplied to Israel has risen to 48 aircraft. Two more jets are scheduled to arrive by next summer, while Israel has already ordered a third squadron, with initial deliveries expected in early 2028 as part of a gradual but steady expansion of its air force capabilities.
Transatlantic Delivery Route and Military Handover
According to Israel’s Maariv newspaper, citing military sources, the fighter jets departed from Dallas, United States, over the weekend and made a stop at a UK airbase before continuing their flight on Sunday morning to Nevatim Air Base in the Negev desert.
The aircraft were flown by US pilots and are set to be formally transferred to the Israeli Air Force upon landing. The occupation army stated that the jets will not enter immediate operational service, as they must first undergo technical inspections and system integration related to Israeli-specific modifications—a process expected to take several weeks.
Part of Unprecedented US Wartime Military Support
The delivery comes amid what Palestinian officials and analysts describe as unprecedented US military support for Israel, particularly over the past two years.
Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza in October 2023, Washington has provided Israel with tens of billions of dollars in direct military assistance, including precision-guided munitions, interceptor missiles for air-defense systems, spare parts, and the accelerated delivery of weapons previously scheduled for later years.
US and Israeli estimates indicate that more than $20 billion in additional military aid has been supplied to Israel over the past two years alone—outside the framework of the fixed annual military assistance package of $3.8 billion. This shift reflects a transformation from a traditional strategic partnership into direct military underwriting during wartime.
Reinforcing Israeli Air Superiority
While the Israeli occupation army claims that the timing of the F-35 delivery was determined months in advance and is unrelated to recent tensions with Iran, military observers view the arrival of the jets as part of a broader effort to raise Israel’s medium-term combat readiness and consolidate the F-35 fleet as the backbone of its air power.
The move further entrenches Israel’s ability to conduct long-range air operations, supported politically and militarily by the United States, at a time when the region is facing heightened instability driven by Israeli aggression and US interventionism.
Decades of US Military Sponsorship
US-Israeli arms transfers are structured to preserve Israel’s so-called “qualitative military edge”, enshrined in long-term memoranda of understanding between Washington and Tel Aviv since the late 1990s. These agreements include grants for weapons procurement and joint missile-defense programs.
According to data from the US Congressional Research Service, cited by Al Jazeera Net, the United States has provided Israel with approximately $186 billion in assistance since 1948—a figure that rises to around $310 billion when adjusted for inflation. The aid spans military, economic, and missile-defense support, making Israel the largest cumulative recipient of US assistance outside the United States.
Palestinian officials and resistance-aligned observers argue that this sustained military sponsorship has enabled Israel’s wars, shielded it from accountability, and entrenched a system of impunity that continues to devastate Palestinian lives. (PW)