Israeli Air Force jets, all made in the United States – F-15s, F-16s and F-35s – have performed over the past two years strikes against targets in Iran and Yemen, about 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) from Israel’s borders. On the ground, Merkava tanks, Namer and Eitan armored personnel carriers, and D9 bulldozers have entered the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria. But to complete their missions, all these aircraft and vehicles – even those considered purely “Blue and White,” made in Israel – rely on American military aid, worth roughly $3.8 billion a year for the IDF.
