As Hamas Continues Attacking Israel With Missiles, Additional Iron Dome Batteries Would Help Protect Civilians and Save Lives
WASHINGTON DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is leading a bipartisan letter with Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Rick Scott (R-FL) urging the Department of Defense to transfer two additional Iron Dome batteries and other unused military assets to Israel as it continues to face rocket and missile attacks from Hamas, and the threat of Hezbollah entering the conflict. These batteries are currently in possession of the United States and are not being used.
“Since October 7, Hamas, which Iran directly supplies and funds, has fired thousands of rockets into populated areas across Israel with the intention of killing as many innocent civilians as possible,” wrote the members. “As you know, the United States Army is currently in possession of two Iron Dome batteries that have not been deployed and have no operational use inside the United States where they are currently stored.”
“Immediately transferring these two Iron Dome batteries that are not in use to Israel would provide tangible, life-saving and sustained support to our ally as it faces rocket and missile salvos that threaten to overwhelm its defenses,” they continued. “The transfer of these two Iron Dome batteries, in addition to sending other unused military assets, would bolster Israel’s defense capabilities and immediately help Israel combat terrorist aggression.”
The full text of the letter can be found HERE.
Senator Rosen has been a strong leader in the fight to make sure Israel has the capabilities it needs to defend itself. Last year, she helped include a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 to authorize $500 million for the Iron Dome and other U.S.-Israel cooperative missile defense programs. Senator Rosen also took to the Senate floor last Congress to request the Unanimous Consent of the Senate to immediately vote on legislation to provide $1 billion for Israel’s Iron Dome. This comes after she joined her colleagues in a bipartisan letter requesting full funding for U.S.-Israel cooperative missile defense programs.
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